Lula Takes Fourth Term After Vote Extension and Tight Race

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term as Brazil's president on Sunday, defeating his right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a close runoff. Lula received 51.79% of the vote, while Flávio Bolsonaro collected 48.21%. The margin of victory amounted to 4.4 million votes across the country.

The election was marked by an unusual two-hour extension of polling hours on Sunday evening. Both campaigns requested the extension for different reasons. Lula's team argued that voters in São Paulo and Bahia faced transportation shortages, while Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign cited heavy rain in southern Brazil and São Paulo. The Supreme Court issued the order just as stations were scheduled to close, leaving some polls unable to reopen after they had already shut.

Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques confirmed the victory, stating that the voting extension did not disrupt the count or the electoral process. This outcome came as a surprise because Flávio Bolsonaro had won the first round of voting on October 4 with 47% of the vote, leading Lula's 45%. Lula's camp gained momentum in the weeks following the first round by focusing on voter turnout after 33 million people abstained from voting initially. The second round saw the largest drop in abstention between rounds since 1989.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has refused to recognize the result. He called for the election to be annulled, describing the outcome as inexplicable and impossible. However, electoral law experts note that annulment is unlikely. Fernando Neisser of the Institute of Lawyers of São Paulo stated that the large margin of victory makes a legal challenge difficult. Alberto Rollo added that presidential election dates are fixed by the constitution, adding another layer of complexity to any attempt to overturn the result.

Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, is the first Brazilian president to win a fourth term. He previously served two terms from January 2003 to December 2010 and began his third term in January 2023. His new term will last until 2030 and begins on January 5. In a victory speech in São Paulo, Lula described the win as a defeat for negativity and lies. He stated that his fourth term would be the best in the country's history and emphasized listening to the Brazilian people.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin congratulated Lula, saying he had saved Brazilian democracy for the second time. Former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence following a coup conviction, had prepared a victory speech but instead called for the result to be voided. Flávio Bolsonaro met with US President Donald Trump earlier this year to seek support, but Trump has yet to react to the final result.

The victory positions Brazil against a trend in Latin America where voters have recently elected right-wing leaders in Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Lula used his speech to address tensions with the United States, referencing the Donroe Doctrine. He insisted that Brazil would not accept being anyone's backyard. Other world leaders, including those from Europe and Africa, have sent congratulatory messages, with several leaders characterizing the win as a victory for progressive forces.

The next step in the process is the formal inauguration on January 5. Lula will begin his new term with the support of his vice president and a mandate that includes managing domestic constraints and international relations.