Brazil Election: Lula Wins Another Term as Bolsonaro Rejects Result
Lula Secures Another Term
Lula defeated Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential runoff on Sunday, October 25. The electoral court confirmed the result once counting was complete, according to the Associated Press. Lula won approximately 51.8% of the vote, compared with Bolsonaro’s 48.2%. The margin was nearly 4.4 million votes, and Lula’s next term is due to begin January 5, 2027.
A Contest Between Rivals
The result gives Lula a fourth term as president, though his terms will not be consecutive. He is a left-wing politician who has often criticized President Donald Trump; Bolsonaro is a right-wing politician who supports Trump.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president. Jair Bolsonaro lost his reelection contest to Lula in 2022. In the first round earlier this month, Bolsonaro finished ahead, but neither candidate secured enough votes to avoid a runoff.
Campaign Backers And Voting Issues
A number of Brazilian entertainers publicly supported Lula during the campaign, including Anitta, Luísa Sonza, Ivete Sangalo, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Actor Wagner Moura also made a campaign video backing him.
Support for Lula also came from international figures, among them Madonna, Bella Hadid, The Strokes, Roger Waters, Tom Morello and Oliver Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon. Voting hours were extended by two hours because of transportation problems and heavy rain in some parts of Brazil. After the result was announced, Lula supporters gathered in the streets to celebrate.
Key points
- Lula won about 51.8% of the vote, while Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.2%.
- The margin was nearly 4.4 million votes, according to the reported totals.
- Lula’s fourth, nonconsecutive term is scheduled to start January 5, 2027.
- Voting hours were extended by two hours after transport problems and heavy rain.