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Lula wins fourth term as Brazil's president

Published

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil's presidential runoff on Sunday, with 51.79% of the vote to 48.21%. Bolsonaro said he would ask for the result to be annulled over a two-hour extension of voting.

The electoral court reported a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes for Lula after 100% of the vote was counted. Bolsonaro had finished first in the first round on 4 October. A Supreme Court justice extended voting by two hours at the last minute, which caused chaos at some polling places.

Analysts doubt that an annulment will succeed. They point to the size of the loss and say Bolsonaro's own campaign asked for the extension because of rain in the south. Latin America analyst Mario Braga said right-wing protests could follow, but "it's very improbable it will lead to the reversal of the result".

Bolsonaro campaigned on closer ties with US President Donald Trump. He also pledged to free his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup. Lula's next term starts on 5 January 2027.

Key facts

Who
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (leftist President of Brazil and runoff candidate); Flavio Bolsonaro (right-wing Senator and runoff candidate, Liberal Party (PL)); Jair Bolsonaro (former president, convicted in 2025 of plotting a 2022 coup); Donald Trump (US President)
What
Brazil held a presidential runoff on Sunday pitting Lula da Silva against Flavio Bolsonaro; polls showed the candidates practically tied going into the vote.
When
25 October 2026
Where
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, São Bernardo do Campo
Status
Reported

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