Lula claims fourth term with 64.2 million votes
The president defeated Flávio Bolsonaro by more than four million ballots, a margin that triggered immediate legal challenges and celebrations across major cities.
By Rafael Collins ·
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured his fourth term as president of Brazil on Sunday after defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in the runoff election. The 81-year-old leader of the Workers' Party won 51.79% of the vote, while his opponent received 48.21%. This victory represents a shift in power from the right to the center-left, altering the political direction of the largest economy in South America.
The final tally gave Lula 64.2 million votes compared to 59.8 million for Flávio Bolsonaro. This margin of over four million votes exceeded the gap Lula achieved against Jair Bolsonaro four years ago. The result reversed a two-point deficit that the former president held after the first round of voting on October 4. At that time, pollsters predicted a technical tie, and few expected the current leader to gain such ground in the weeks that followed.
Lula framed the campaign as a choice between democratic governance and authoritarian rule. He cited the conviction of Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for orchestrating a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election. The president argued that Brazil voters rejected the influence of United States President Donald Trump. He stated in his victory speech that Brazil would not be the backyard of any nation but would remain central in global discussions.
In his address, Lula thanked young voters for taking to the streets to defend democracy. He also credited older citizens for turning out to vote, which helped lower the high abstention rates seen in the first round. His voice broke during parts of the speech, reflecting the intensity of a campaign that required him to use a mobile phone for the first time and engage on social media platforms where he had little prior experience.
Flávio Bolsonaro refused to acknowledge the loss and announced he would seek annulment of the election in the courts. His campaign argued that a last-minute extension of voting hours by two hours created confusion. The extension was ordered by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, who served as Lula’s lawyer, and was announced one minute after the scheduled closing time of polling stations.
The Workers' Party claimed that right-leaning cities failed to provide enough free bus services to transport voters, a requirement set by the courts. They argued this disproportionately affected poorer voters who typically support the left. Kassio Nunes Marques, the head of the Superior Electoral Court, said the delay caused technical, operational, and security difficulties during the voting process.
Flávio Bolsonaro described the extension as an unacceptable violation of equality for Brazilian citizens. He told reporters in Brasilia that it was inexplicable that the rules changed again by Lula’s allies in the Supreme Court. Despite these complaints, Hugo Motta, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, and Davi Alcolumbre, the president of the Senate, both recognized the outcome. Both are political allies of the reelected president.
Supporters gathered in large numbers across the country to celebrate the result. The largest crowd formed on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, where tens of thousands of people chanted that there would never be a dictatorship again. Lula joined them to thank his base, marking a larger celebration than the one held for his 2022 victory. The turnout reflected a surge in support that occurred despite a more right-leaning Congress, which Lula must now negotiate with to maintain governance.
