With a 51.78% of the vote Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a record Fourth Term in Surprise Brazil Comeback.
His opponent Flávio Bolsonaro secured 48.21% but did not concede and immediately called for the annulment of Brazil’s presidential runoff after losing the election.
The final vote count was announced Sunday, 25 October, 7:28 p.m. ET · Updated 9:07 p.m. ET.
Bolsonaro had beaten Lula in the first round on 4 October and many had not thought it possible for him to turn the result around in just three weeks.
Lula, 80, the left-wing president said that his win is a sign that he has overpowered foreign interference in Brazil domestic affairs.
He is expected to conduct a rigorous economic overhaul, judicial reforms and establish a new power center.
Analysts well versed with Brazil politics argue that Lula’s new challenge is to isolate the far right in order to unite Brazil.
Lula will be the oldest president in history extending his record and finishing his fourth term at 85years. He first ran for president in 1989.
Lula starts his new term on 5 January 2027.
Brazil, an oil-rich country and holds the world’s second-largest reserves of rare earth minerals, is the only big country in South America not governed by a right-wing leader, with Lula largely seen as China-friendly.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro campaigned with promise to align Brazil closely with Washington. Lula had warned the US not to interfere in the election and insisted that Brazil would “never fit into anyone’s backyard”.
