Lula Wins Brazil Presidency Despite Last-Minute Poll Extension

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won re-election on Sunday, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro by a margin of nearly 4.4 million votes.

With all votes counted, Brazil’s electoral court confirmed Lula’s victory with 51.8 percent of the total. The result places the 81-year-old leader in a position to serve a non-consecutive fourth term starting on January 5, 2027.

The election process ended in confusion after Justice Cristiano Zanin of the Supreme Court ruled three minutes before the scheduled end of voting to keep polls open for two more hours. Both candidates had requested the extension. Lula’s request followed transportation issues in São Paulo and Salvador, while Bolsonaro’s request was due to heavy rains in the south. The delay complicated vote counting and prompted Bolsonaro to say he wants the election annulled over the decision.

Lula addressed supporters after the result was confirmed, thanking Brazilians and pledging to respect citizens regardless of gender or religion. He criticized his opponent, stating, "This was a defeat for denialism and lies. I must confess that every time I attended a debate, I felt embarrassed." He also emphasized national independence, declaring, "Either the homeland remains free or we die for Brazil. This country will not accept being anyone's backyard."

The victory maintains a political distance between Brazil and the United States. Lula has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. The win leaves Mexico and Brazil, the two most populous nations in Latin America, under left-of-center leadership. It also positions the region's largest economy, which has a gross domestic product of $2.6 trillion, to remain independent from Washington despite increased tariffs.

Bolsonaro had won the first round earlier this month by more than 2.2 million votes. Sunday’s result marks the first time since 1985 that the second-highest vote-getter in the first round won the presidency. Campaigns focused on the cost of living and security, with Bolsonaro promising to lower food costs and take a tough-on-crime approach. Both candidates face corruption suspicions involving family members and allies.

Lula began his political career in the 1970s as a union leader and helped found the Workers' Party. He previously served as president from 2003 to 2010. He was convicted of corruption in 2018 and spent 580 days in prison before the Supreme Court annulled his sentence. He narrowly defeated former President Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.