Brazilian President Lula da Silva wins fourth term in runoff election upset

Leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a runoff election in Brazil on Sunday, October 25, 2026, defeating right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Official results show Mr. Lula secured 51.75 percent of the vote compared to 48.25 percent for Mr. Bolsonaro, who had led in initial polls and won the first round. The victory gives Mr. Lula an unprecedented fourth term leading Latin America's largest country. He turns 81 on Tuesday, October 27, and will be 85 by the end of this new term in 2030, having previously served from 2003 to 2010.

Election Chaos

The vote faced last-minute turmoil after a Supreme Court ruling extended voting by two hours. Mr. Lula requested the extension because public buses were pulled from city streets to stop citizens from voting. Mr. Bolsonaro also sought extra time in some areas due to heavy rains, but his camp strongly opposed the nationwide extension. Pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker Nikolas Ferreira warned on social media as votes came in. The bitter contest exposed deep divisions across the nation of over 200 million people, with voters expressing starkly different views on the outcome.

Campaign Turnaround

After his surprise first-round defeat, Mr. Lula's campaign mobilized massive rallies warning against a return to the policies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, the opponent's father. Supporters highlighted the former administration's handling of the Covid pandemic, Amazon rainforest destruction, and public spending cuts. Mr. Lula also changed his social media tactics by recording video selfies and buying his first mobile phone. His supporters pushed hard to convince friends and neighbors to vote after high abstention rates.

Context

Brazil is South America's largest democracy and economic powerhouse, making its political shifts closely watched across the continent. Mr. Lula's victory bucks a broader right-wing political wave seen recently in several neighboring Latin American nations. Despite his social welfare programs lifting millions out of poverty over the years, he now begins his new term facing a hostile Congress dominated by the right and slowing economic growth.