Brazil elections: Lula wins new mandate, defeating Bolsonaro

Left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term, defeating his right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff, electoral authorities said.

Lula overcame his first round defeat against Bolsonaro to secure victory in the second round. The nearly 81-year-old leader won 51.7% of the vote, compared to 48.2% for Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The campaign was marred by scandals and slander. Sunday’s vote was thrown into confusion after a last-minute Supreme Court ruling extended voting by two hours, following Lula’s claims that buses had been taken off the roads in several towns, preventing some voters from reaching polling stations.

Pollsters said the higher-than-expected turnout appeared to have benefited Lula. In Brazil, conservative candidates typically lead early in the count, while left-wing candidates gain ground as votes from poorer, more populous northeastern states come in.

When it comes to foreign policy during his next term, Lula will have to manage his relations with Washington while maintaining his anti-imperialist stance, as the Trump administration increasingly asserts its influence in the region. Flavio Bolsonaro campaigned promising closer cooperation with Washington.

Around 159 million Brazilians were eligible to vote. Under Lula’s left-wing Workers’ Party, unemployment fell to record lows, poverty declined, the minimum wage rose, and deforestation in the Amazon declined. Congress also approved the phasing in of a five-day work week with two days off.

However, the rising cost of living, the size of the public debt, Lula’s spending policies and a scandal involving alleged pension fraud have weighed on his government. The economic challenges have left many voters unhappy with his record and open to the Bolsonaro family returning to power.

Lula finished the first round with 45% of the votes, two points behind Flavio Bolsonaro. He became the first candidate since Brazil restored direct presidential elections in 1989 to overcome a first-round deficit and win the runoff.

The former trade unionist, who served as president from 2003 to 2010 before returning to power in 2023, now faces a difficult fourth term with strong right-wing opposition.