Brazil’s incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won the presidential runoff election, securing a fourth presidential election victory, according to official results released by the country’s Superior Electoral Court.
With 99.89 per cent of the votes counted, Lula, the candidate of the ruling Workers’ Party, secured 51.78 per cent of the valid votes, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party, who received 48.23 per cent. Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula’s victory marks a political comeback after he trailed in the first round of voting held on October 4. In that round, Bolsonaro secured 47.03 per cent of the valid votes, while Lula received 45.16 per cent, setting the stage for a closely contested runoff.
Lula is set to govern Brazil from 2027 to 2030, with his inauguration scheduled for January 5, 2027, according to the report. His new term will bring significant political and economic challenges, including managing public debt and working with a Congress in which Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party has secured a strong presence.
The election outcome also comes amid a broader political shift in Latin America, where right-wing movements have gained ground, with US President Donald Trump backing conservative political forces in the region.
Following the victory, Lula thanked the Brazilian people in a post on social media platform X, saying the election campaign had strengthened unity and mobilisation for a better future
He highlighted his commitment to workers and referred to the campaign’s focus on labour reforms, including the proposed end of the six-day workweek with one day off, commonly known as the 6×1 work schedule.
Lula also expressed gratitude to supporters for their participation and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing efforts towards improving the country’s future.
The runoff brought an end to weeks of intense campaigning across Brazil, Latin America’s largest country, with voters choosing between Lula’s Workers’ Party and the Liberal Party led by Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign.
-IANS
