Lula Secures Fourth Term in Brazil After Tight Runoff Against Flavio Bolsonaro
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated conservative Flavio Bolsonaro in a close second-round vote, earning a fourth term as Brazil’s president.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emerged victorious in Brazil’s most closely contested presidential runoff, beating conservative Flavio Bolsonaro and securing a fourth term in office. The win was confirmed after a second round that set a record for narrowness in the nation’s electoral history. Lula, who turned 81 on Tuesday, marked the occasion with celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.
After his 2019 release from a 580-day imprisonment, he warned that a Northeastern survivor of hunger fears nothing, a sentiment he appears to have proven. The campaign was marked by intense violence, with Lula facing accusations ranging from drunkenness to theft. Nonetheless, his supporters rejoiced at the unexpected reversal that kept the left-wing icon in power.
Why it matters
Lula’s re-election shapes Brazil’s political direction and influences regional left-wing movements.
How this story developed
- Oct 4 Portugal sees alcohol dependence surge while Brazil heads to tightly contested election
- Oct 10 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign says Meta restricted his content on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as the presidential runoff approaches.
- Oct 13 Senator Flavio Bolsonaro announced he will vote for a constitutional amendment that cuts Brazil’s standard workweek from 44 to 40 hours, reversing his party’s previous opposition.
- Oct 16 Senate ratified the constitutional amendment following Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s earlier announcement of support.
- Oct 16 A new Datafolha poll released Thursday shows Bolsonaro maintaining a narrow lead over Lula within the margin of error.
- Oct 19 The first televised debate between the two candidates was held a week before the runoff.
- Oct 20 Lula’s closing remarks were interrupted when the moderator announced he had run out of time.
- Oct 20 The court increased the daily penalty on Meta.
- Oct 22 Meta was ordered to demonstrate compliance with equal‑treatment rules within 24 hours.
- Oct 25 A Datafolha poll released on October 22 gave Flávio Bolsonaro 47% and Lula 46%, a one‑point margin.
- Oct 25 Voters went to the polls on Sunday for the runoff.
- Oct 25 The Supreme Court authorized longer voting hours and the electoral court ordered the arrest of Salvador's mobility secretary.
- Oct 25 Voting began with low turnout and bus blockades in Bahia.
- Oct 26 Brazil remains a deeply divided country and Lula will have to navigate a hostile Congress if he is to make significant legislative changes in his fourth term.
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