Brazilian Court Confirms Lula Victory After Polling Extension
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secures 51.8 percent of the vote in a runoff that ended with a two-hour delay and immediate challenges from his opponent.
By Matthew Collins ·
Brazil’s electoral court confirmed on Sunday that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential runoff, securing 51.8 percent of the vote. The final tally showed a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes over Flávio Bolsonaro. The result marks Lula’s fourth term as president, a position he will assume on Jan. 5, 2027.
The election ended in confusion after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ruled three minutes before the scheduled close that voting would continue for two more hours. Lula requested the extension due to bus transport delays in São Paulo and Salvador, while Bolsonaro cited heavy rains in the south. Zanin, who served as Lula’s former lawyer, made the decision at the request of both camps. The delay postponed the vote count by two hours and left uncertainty about how many polling stations remained open.
Flávio Bolsonaro said after the announcement that he wants the election annulled because of the late extension. He had yet to issue a formal response to the confirmed results at the time of the court’s announcement. Nikolas Ferreira, a Bolsonaro ally, noted the potential conflict of interest given Zanin’s past legal work for the president.
Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, addressed supporters by calling the result a defeat for denialism. He said he felt embarrassed during debates against Bolsonaro but pledged to respect all Brazilians regardless of gender or religion. He also emphasized national sovereignty, stating, “This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard.”
Supporters gathered in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to celebrate. In Rio, cars honked and a woman in red shouted at men in yellow and green holding beers. In São Paulo, hundreds gathered on main streets. Lula was seen with his wife, Rosângela Lula da Silva, wearing red star-shaped glasses after the court confirmed his win.
Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman who supports Bolsonaro, said another Lula government would harm the economy. He pointed to positive market reactions in the first round when Bolsonaro led. “The country is collapsing,” Valentim said. The runoff followed a first round earlier this month where Bolsonaro led Lula by more than 2.2 million votes.
The victory keeps Latin America’s largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion, independent from U.S. pressure despite increased tariffs. It leaves Mexico and Brazil, the region’s two most populous nations, led by left-of-centre presidents. This outcome contrasts with a regional trend of right-of-centre candidates aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Lula and Bolsonaro both face corruption suspicions involving family members. Lula previously spent 580 days in prison on convictions that were later annulled. He joins U.S. President Donald Trump and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega as the oldest presidents in the Americas, all aged 80.
Source: CBC News
