Lula wins fourth Brazilian presidential term with 51.7 percent

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a historic fourth presidential term in Brazil on Sunday, defeating far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in the runoff vote. Official results show Lula received 51.7 percent of the vote against 48.2 percent for his right-wing opponent.

The result overturns forecasts that had suggested Lula might face difficulties and halts the advance of the right in Latin America. Lula, one of the most emblematic figures of the international left and a dominant figure in Brazilian politics for decades, triumphed despite voter discontent over past corruption scandals and the rising cost of living.

“"political giant"”

Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, had finished first in the initial round and sought to revive his father's far-right political movement.

The victory marks another remarkable return for the 80-year-old politician. Lula was imprisoned from 2018 to 2019 on corruption charges that were later overturned, allowing him to re-enter the electoral race and defeat Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.

Lula served as president from 2003 to 2011, combining pragmatism with populism and promoting policies aimed at improving the lives of workers and poorer social strata. During the campaign, he cited his government's record in reducing poverty and inequality and claimed that unemployment, illiteracy, and deforestation had fallen to historically low levels during his third term.

Workers' Party lawmaker Erika Hilton, who was with Lula in Sao Paulo during the vote count, called him a "political giant" in remarks to Reuters. During the campaign, Lula warned that a Bolsonaro victory could lead to cuts.