Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff with 51.79 percent of votes, securing a fourth term and becoming the first Brazilian president elected to four terms in office. The left-wing leader defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, by a margin of 4.4 million votes.
Lula's victory reversed the result of the first round held on October 4, when Bolsonaro's son had led with 47 percent to Lula's 45 percent. The runoff saw the largest drop in abstention between two presidential rounds since 1989, with Lula's campaign focused on boosting voter turnout after 33 million people had not voted in round one.
Flávio Bolsonaro has refused to recognize the result and called for it to be annulled. He cites an unprecedented decision by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin to extend voting nationwide by two hours, alleging bias given Zanin's past role as Lula's lawyer. However, both campaigns had requested voting extensions. Lula's team argued voters in São Paulo and Bahia faced bus shortages, while Bolsonaro's cited heavy rain. Kássio Nunes Marques, president of the Supreme Electoral Court and appointed by Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed Lula's victory and stated the extension did not change the outcome. The 4.4 million vote margin makes a successful challenge unlikely.
World leaders across the political spectrum congratulated Lula. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said "the people of Brazil won." Peru's right-wing President Keiko Fujimori praised Brazil's "democratic day." France's Emmanuel Macron and Spain's Pedro Sánchez also issued congratulatory statements. South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa called it a victory for "the global south and progressive forces." US President Donald Trump has not yet reacted.
Financial markets declined sharply. The São Paulo stock exchange opened 15 percent down before recovering slightly. Interest rate futures rose as investors scrutinized Lula's fiscal plans.
Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, will serve his fourth term until 2030 starting January 5. He previously served two non-consecutive terms between 2003 and 2010, and returned to office in January 2023. In his victory speech, Lula stated Brazil "will not accept being anyone's backyard," an apparent response to Trump's stated "Monroe Doctrine" aims for US dominance in the Western Hemisphere. Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for conviction of a coup attempt.