Lula, 80, Seeks Historic Fourth Term in Brazil Presidential Runoff

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is running for a fourth term as president of Brazil at age 80. A victory would make him the first Brazilian president elected to four terms and one of the few Latin American leaders to achieve that democratically.

Lula entered politics nearly 50 years ago and lived through Brazil's transition from military rule to democracy. He recently faced cancer for the second time.

“They did not imprison a man. They tried to kill an idea. But an idea cannot be killed.”

In the first round on October 4, Lula received 45.16 percent of valid votes, finishing behind right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who won 47.03 percent. Flávio Bolsonaro is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Jair Bolsonaro is serving a prison sentence for conspiring to overturn the 2022 election results, which he lost to Lula. The runoff this Sunday will determine Brazil's next president.

The race takes place amid deep polarization, new corruption investigations, tensions with the United States government, and a resurgent right wing across Latin America encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Lula was released from the Federal Police headquarters in Curitiba on November 8, 2019, after 580 days in prison. Supporters had held vigils outside the building for much of that period to demand his freedom.

Upon his release, Lula told the crowd that authorities had not imprisoned a man but had tried to kill an idea, adding that an idea cannot be killed.