Lula Claims Fourth Term, Son of Bolsonaro Objects

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term in office on Sunday, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff that the electoral court declared final. Lula captured 51.8 percent of the ballots, finishing nearly 4.4 million votes ahead of his challenger. The victory positions the 81-year-old leader, who turns that age on Tuesday, to serve until 2030 while his rival contests the outcome.

The election concluded with disorder at multiple polling stations across the country. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered voting to remain open for two extra hours just three minutes before the scheduled 5 p.m. local deadline. Both campaigns requested the extension. Lula’s team pointed to transportation delays in São Paulo and Salvador, while Bolsonaro’s camp cited heavy rain in the south. It is unclear how many locations stayed open late, though reporters in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro observed closures near the original time.

Flávio Bolsonaro rejected the results immediately after the count was finalized. He argued that the late ruling changed the rules of the game in the middle of the match. "It's impossible to recognize the results of the election in the context of these things that happened," Bolsonaro said. He noted that Zanin previously served as Lula’s lawyer. The candidate may request a recount if he presents evidence of fraud, though legal experts note it is unclear if his complaint meets the threshold for annulment.

Lula addressed crowds in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to announce his victory. He described the win as a defeat for denialism and lies. "This country will not accept being anyone's backyard," he stated, emphasizing national independence. In Rio, car horns honked and crowds cheered as the result was confirmed. Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman supporting Bolsonaro, criticized the outcome, stating that the country is collapsing and that a new Lula government would hurt the economy.

The result reverses a recent regional trend of right-of-center, Trump-aligned candidates winning presidencies. Brazil, with a $2.6 trillion U.S. dollar GDP, is expected to continue resisting U.S. trade demands. The race was a tight contest focused on cost of living and security. Bolsonaro led the first round by more than 2.2 million votes earlier this month. This marks the first time since the military dictatorship ended in 1985 that the runner-up from the first round won the presidency.

Lula reorganized his campaign after the initial loss to court young voters and warn of another Bolsonaro administration. He is set to begin his fourth non-consecutive term on January 5, 2027. At age 80, he joins U.S. President Donald Trump and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega as the oldest heads of state in the Americas.