Lula Wins Fourth Term in Brazil Runoff

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth, nonconsecutive term as president of Brazil. The 80-year-old leader from the Workers’ Party received 51.79% of the vote in the runoff held on Sunday. His opponent, 45-year-old far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, received 48.21% of the vote. The margin was approximately 4.3 million votes.

Lula reversed a substantial deficit from the first round of voting earlier this month. In that contest, Flávio Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes to Lula’s 53.8 million. Bolsonaro had led by 1.87 percentage points. Polls tightened during the two-week interval between rounds, with the race narrowing to a fraction of a percentage point.

Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede the defeat immediately after results were declared. He cited a decision to extend voting hours by two extra hours as a reason for his stance. Both campaigns had requested the extension, though for different strategic reasons. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup following his loss in the 2022 election.

Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, reported from São Paulo where Lula supporters cheered and fireworks exploded. He described the victory as the crescendo of Lula’s 50-year political career. Phillips noted that Lula has helped millions escape poverty during his previous terms and has reduced deforestation in the Amazon by more than 70% since taking office last time.

The campaign saw a mobilization effort among lower-income voters, who recorded a 21% abstention rate in the first round. Millions joined a WhatsApp group called “Lula’s army” that shared daily instructions on creating supportive content. Lula, who recently purchased his first smartphone, began posting to Instagram and TikTok. For the first time, his digital reach surpassed that of his rival.

The Bolsonaro campaign faced scrutiny over allegations that Meta favored the senator’s campaign. A dozen watchdog groups published reports on the matter. The Brazilian electoral court ordered Meta not to give candidates unequal treatment. Meta called the allegations false and unfounded. The campaign also dealt with scandals, including a claim that Flávio Bolsonaro attended a boat party during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak.

Donald Trump, who imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports last year, did not officially endorse Flávio Bolsonaro. However, his influence was a factor in the election. Lula positioned himself as a defender against what he called Trump’s colonial designs. He rejected an invitation to join a coalition of Latin American countries conducting military operations against drug cartels alongside the Pentagon.

Lula’s victory ensures the continuation of environmental policies that protected Indigenous reserves in the Amazon. The environment was a minor topic in the final debate, with voters focusing more on economy and public security. The president will now work with a newly elected congress that includes a record number of right-wing politicians.

Flávio Bolsonaro is expected to head to the United States in the coming days to avoid ongoing criminal investigations. He stated that it was impossible to concede the result. World leaders are recognizing Lula’s win as the immediate aftermath remains tense.