Historic result in the elections in Brazil. Lula triumphed in the runoff against Trumpian candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, confirming himself as president of Brazil for the fourth time. Lula obtained 51.74% of the votes, against Bolsonaro’s 48.2%: a gap well above the very close head-to-head expected on the eve.
“I thank the generosity of the young Brazilians who fought to defend democracy”, Lula’s first words, in an already festive Sao Paulo.
Bolsonaro isn’t in it. Jair’s son has announced that he will request the annulment of the vote, which in his opinion was distorted by the judge’s decision to postpone the closing of the polls for two hours, a measure also requested by him.
President Lula celebrates victory on Avenida Paulista https://t.co/i1c214V8ga
— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 26, 2026
Who is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Lula is 81 years old and is the symbol of the Brazilian left. Seventh of eight children, he has humble origins, his political history begins in the seventies when, as a worker for Indústrias Villares, he becomes the voice and face of the union of metal workers.
From there he conquered everyone and governed Brazil for three terms: he won elections for the first time in 2002 and again in 2006. In these two consecutive terms he promoted massive social welfare programs. He also ended up in prison due to a conviction for corruption, which was later annulled due to formal defects. He returned to lead Brazil, defeating Jair Bolsonaro and resisting the subsequent coup attempt, for which the far-right leader was convicted last year. Now the fourth term begins but once again with a Parliament in the hands of the right.
I have eternal gratitude to the Brazilian people, to the youth who walk the streets in defense of democracy and to every person who has put in an immense effort to vote and defend the future of our country.
Let me excite you and renew my hope. This victory is of a people who believe, who fight and who do not give up on building a more just, sovereign and democratic Brazil.
Much obliged, Brazil!
This victory is ours. In Victoria it’s do povo brasileiro!
📸 @ricardostuckert
— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 26, 2026
Lula’s program
Lula proposes an idea of a State with a central role in the economy, capable of promoting investments, financing strategic sectors and expanding social programs. But he will have to deal with a high public debt and a hostile Congress.
On the international level, Lula will continue to advocate his multipolar diplomacy, he wants autonomy from the great powers and an open dialogue both with China and Russia and with the United States, even if the commercial and ideological tensions with the Trump administration are heavy.
Bolsonaro’s anger
Flavio Bolsonaro reacted by refusing to recognize Lula’s victory. He contests the decision to extend the opening hours of polling stations due to problems with public transport which caused inconvenience to some voters: “It is impossible to recognize the result. I will ask for these elections to be annulled.”
However, Bolsonaro is alone in his battle. The president of Brazil’s superior electoral court (TSE), Kassio Nunes Marques, confirmed Lula’s victory: “We have full security over the entire electoral process.”
Even the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, and of the Chamber, Hugo Motta, both from center-right parties, congratulated Lula and defended the regularity of the vote.
NO!
@FlavioBolsonaro does not recognize the result of the elections: “what happened today was nothing normal”. https://t.co/5a0PPx7j16
— Eduardo Bolsonaro🇧🇷 (@BolsonaroSP) October 26, 2026
Trump’s reaction
US President Donald Trump also questioned Lula’s victory. Trump compared it to Democrat Joe Biden’s success in the 2020 US presidential election, the outcome of which he never acknowledged. “They simply applied Joe Biden’s playbook in Brazil,” Trump said. “Bolsonaro had a big lead in the first round and was the clear favorite to win the second. But the communists don’t give up power once they get it,” he added.