Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a historic fourth term after defeating conservative challenger Flavio Bolsonaro in a tightly contested presidential runoff, but the defeated candidate has vowed to challenge the outcome and seek the annulment of the election.
Official results showed Lula securing 51.8 per cent of the votes against 48.2 per cent for Bolsonaro, a margin of approximately 4.4 million votes.
The result represents a remarkable political comeback for Lula, 80, who turns 81 on Tuesday, and deals a setback to the growing influence of right-wing politics across Latin America.
Countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru have experienced shifts towards conservative leadership, a trend reinforced by the political influence of United States President Donald Trump.
Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old senator and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, however, refused to accept defeat, citing controversy over a decision to extend voting hours in some parts of the country.
The extension followed a Supreme Court ruling that prolonged voting by two hours after reports that transport disruptions had prevented some voters from reaching polling stations before closing time.
Lula had requested the extension, arguing that buses had been withdrawn from circulation in several cities, limiting citizens' ability to exercise their voting rights.
Bolsonaro also sought an extension in some areas affected by heavy rainfall but later described the decision as “unacceptable” and a “dirty trick”.
Speaking in Brasília, he declared that he would challenge the election outcome.
“It is impossible to recognise the results. I am going to request the annulment of these elections,” he said.
The dispute threatens to deepen political tensions in a country already divided by years of ideological confrontation between supporters of Lula's left-wing Workers' Party and the conservative movement associated with the Bolsonaro family.
Jair Bolsonaro, the former president, is serving a 27-year prison sentence following his conviction over an attempted coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to Lula.
Reacting to his latest victory, Lula said the outcome reflected the efforts of voters who understood the importance of democratic participation.
“People went to vote because we managed to convince them that voting was very important for ensuring democracy in the country,” he said.
The announcement triggered celebrations in major Brazilian cities, with supporters gathering in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In São Paulo, thousands dressed in red, the colour associated with Lula's Workers' Party, took to the streets, while fireworks and vuvuzelas marked the celebrations in Rio.
Campaign mobilisation delivers victory
Lula's victory followed an aggressive mobilisation campaign after the first round, when his supporters intensified efforts to consolidate votes and counter Bolsonaro's growing appeal among conservative voters.
The campaign featured large rallies under the slogan “Never Again Bolsonaro”, alongside an expanded social media strategy designed to reach undecided voters.
The abstention rate also declined from 21 per cent in the first round to 19 per cent in the runoff.
Julio Canelo, a 42-year-old lawyer who celebrated the result in Rio de Janeiro, described the victory as a triumph for democratic forces.
“It was the result of the people mobilising, in the streets and online,” he told AFP.
Social media platforms also became a major battleground during the campaign. Lula's camp accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, of favouring Bolsonaro through alleged algorithmic manipulation.
Meta rejected the allegation but acknowledged that technical errors had led to the mistaken deactivation of some advertisements placed by Lula's campaign.
Following his victory, Lula renewed his call for regulation of social media companies.
“We are going to have to regulate them,” he said.
The campaign was also characterised by scandals, allegations and personal attacks, exposing the deep political divisions that have persisted in Brazil over the past decade.
Cost of living remains a major concern
Despite winning another term, Lula faces the challenge of governing a nation in which almost half of participating voters preferred his opponent.
A former factory worker who rose from poverty to become president in 2003, Lula won re-election in 2006 before making a dramatic return to office in 2023 after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 election.
His comeback followed a corruption scandal that resulted in him spending more than 18 months in prison. The convictions were subsequently annulled on procedural grounds.
During his current administration, inflation and unemployment declined, while government programmes helped lift millions of people out of hunger. Nevertheless, the rising cost of living and concerns about crime remained significant issues for many Brazilians.
Tereza Cristina Ramos, a 68-year-old retiree who voted in Rio de Janeiro, said economic hardship had made daily life increasingly difficult.
“We're in a deep hole, things are dire. People can barely afford to eat — buying meat is out of the question,” she said.
Bolsonaro presented himself as a more moderate and approachable alternative to his father, attracting conservative supporters and voters eager for a change in leadership.
Lula, who will be 85 when his new term ends in 2030, is also expected to face legislative resistance from a Congress dominated by right-wing lawmakers.
Lula promises to defend Brazil's sovereignty
National sovereignty featured prominently in Lula's campaign, particularly amid commercial and diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration in Washington.
The Brazilian leader insisted that his country would not allow external powers to dictate its political or economic direction.
“This country will not accept being anyone's backyard,” he said on Sunday.
Lula's victory drew congratulations from leaders across Latin America, including Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, both of whom are aligned with the region's conservative political movement and considered close allies of Trump.
Mexico's left-wing President Claudia Sheinbaum also welcomed the outcome, describing it as a victory for democracy.
“Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won,” she wrote on X.
However, Bolsonaro's threat to seek the annulment of the election introduces fresh uncertainty into Brazil's post-election political landscape.
The coming weeks are likely to test the country's institutions as Lula prepares for another term amid persistent ideological divisions, economic concerns and opposition from conservative forces.
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