Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won reelection, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in Sunday’s presidential runoff, according to Brazil’s electoral authorities.
Lula secured approximately 51.77% of valid votes against Bolsonaro’s 48.23%, with nearly all ballots counted. The result gives the 80-year-old leader an unprecedented fourth, nonconsecutive presidential term.
The victory marks the first time since Brazil adopted its current runoff system in 1989 that a presidential candidate who finished second in the first round has won the election.
Lula Overturns First-Round Defeat in Brazil Election
Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, had led the October 4 first round by more than 2.2 million votes. Lula subsequently intensified his campaign, focusing on younger voters, social programs and concerns about the return of the Bolsonaro political movement.
The victory represents another remarkable comeback for Lula, who defeated former President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s 2022 presidential election after spending 580 days in prison before his corruption convictions were annulled.
Following that victory, Lula returned to power in January 2023, promising to rebuild Brazil after four years of right-wing government. His return was followed by political unrest, including an episode in which Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress and presidential palace.
The Bolsonaro political movement remained influential despite the former president’s legal troubles. In September 2025, Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power following his 2022 election defeat.
Sunday’s election was complicated by transportation disruptions and severe weather that prompted a Supreme Court justice to extend voting hours by two hours. The decision created confusion at polling stations and raised the possibility of legal challenges.
Victory Has International Implications
Lula’s reelection keeps Latin America’s largest economy under left-wing leadership, bucking a regional trend toward conservative governments. His victory also represents a setback for political forces aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lula has opposed Washington’s tariffs on Brazilian products and has sought to maintain greater independence in Brazil’s foreign policy.
His next presidential term is scheduled to begin January 5, 2027.
Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who eyes re-election in publicly endorsed Lula ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff, describing the election as a contest between democracy and authoritarianism.
Lula thanked Tsipras for his support and friendship. The two leaders have maintained political ties since 2012, when Tsipras visited Brazil during Greece’s financial crisis and held talks with Brazilian political leaders, including Lula.
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