Lula Wins Fourth Term in Brazil After 51.78 Percent Vote Share

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a fourth non-consecutive term as Brazilian president after receiving 51.78 percent of valid votes in the Sunday runoff. His opponent, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, finished with 48.22 percent of the total. The Superior Electoral Court confirmed the figures late on Sunday night.

Heavy rain and technical issues disrupted voting across the country. Polls that were scheduled to close at 7 p.m. local time remained open for two additional hours. The Supreme Court approved the extension, a move that has complicated the aftermath of the election.

Flavio Bolsonaro stated that he would contest the results by pointing to the two-hour extension. He said he would not accept that the rules were arbitrarily changed by the Federal Supreme Court. He added that his legal team would seek to have the elections annulled.

Reports indicate that both campaigns requested the extension. The request cited downpours and transport disruptions that prevented some voters from reaching their polling stations. This creates a tension in Bolsonaro's argument, as he had also asked for the extra time.

Lula is the first presidential candidate in modern Brazilian history to lose the first round of voting and then win the runoff. His victory runs counter to a regional trend of conservative governments gaining power in Latin America. He is scheduled to begin his new term on January 5, 2027.

In remarks to supporters after the result, Lula promised to dedicate himself to the country 24 hours a day. He said he would deliver the best term any president has ever served. He also emphasized sovereignty, stating that Brazil is no one's back yard and that the election defeated outside interference.

Congratulations for the win came from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, United States Senator Bernie Sanders, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Lula has previously supported stronger ties with Iran and China while criticizing Israel and the United States.