Historic turnaround in Brazil! Lula da Silva wins the presidential election. Bolsonaro wants the election annulled

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential election, held on Sunday, October 25, 2026, and will begin a fourth term leading the country, a first in Brazil’s history. According to the Superior Electoral Court, Lula received 51.79% of the valid votes, compared with 48.21% for Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party candidate and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula’s victory was confirmed at 9:10 p.m. in Brasília, with the difference exceeding 4.4 million votes. The result represents a reversal from the first round on October 4, when Flávio Bolsonaro had received 47.03% and Lula 45.16%. It is the first time since the resumption of direct presidential elections in 1989 that a candidate who placed second in the first round has won the decisive election.

Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat and announced that he would challenge the result, citing the extension of voting hours by two hours. The measure had been adopted following reports of transportation problems and heavy rain.

Lula will have to negotiate with a Congress dominated by conservative forces, amid slow economic growth, high public debt, and household indebtedness. His reelection was welcomed by left-wing leaders in Latin America.