Lula Secures Victory in Brazilian Runoff with 51.8 Percent of Vote

Lula won 51.8 percent of the vote with 100 percent of the ballots counted, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, by nearly 4.4 million votes. The runoff, which kept polls open for an additional two hours due to last-minute requests from both candidates, ended an evening of chaos at polling places across Brazil. Bolsonaro has challenged the results, claiming the election should be annulled due to the poll extension. Lula, who will turn 81 on October 29, will serve a non-consecutive fourth term as president, beginning on January 5, 2027. His victory bucks a regional trend of right-of-centre leaders aligned with Donald Trump winning in Latin America.

With 100 percent of the vote counted, Brazil's electoral court announced that Lula, who turns 81 on October 29, had a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes, 51.8 percent of the total vote, over opponent Flávio Bolsonaro. The announcement capped an evening of chaos at polling places across Brazil, following a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours. Bolsonaro said after the results were announced that he wants the election anulled over that extension.

Lula's triumph bucks a trend in Latin America where increasing numbers of right-of-centre presidential candidates allied with Trump have been winning, further extending the United States' influence in the region. His victory leaves Mexico and Brazil, Latin America's two most populous nations, with left-of-centre leaders. It also positions the region's largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion US per year, to remain independent of the U.S., despite the pressure of increased tariffs imposed by Trump.

Lula's supporters celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, where cars beeped their horns and a woman dressed in red, the colour of Lula supporters, shouted 'You lost! Cry harder!' to four men in yellow and green sipping beers, Bolsonaro's signature colours. A huge roar echoed in the street as the result was confirmed. Lula's supporters celebrate in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. (Lucas Landau/The Associated Press)