Lula Wins Fourth Term, Beating Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil Runoff
Lula defeated Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil's presidential runoff, securing a fourth term. Bolsonaro's camp stayed silent after criticizing a voting extension.
The story in focus
Brazil's incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in Sunday's runoff, securing a fourth non-consecutive term, according to the official electoral body. Lula won more than 51 percent of valid votes. Bolsonaro won the first round but conceded no defeat publicly as his campaign questioned a court-ordered voting extension.
- Lula took 51.75 percent with 98.76 percent counted; Bolsonaro had 48.25 percent, per the official electoral body
- Bolsonaro led the 4 October first round with 47 percent to Lula's 45 percent
- Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered voting extended two hours nationwide
- Bolsonaro's camp issued no concession, and coordinator Rogerio Marinho called the extension shameful
- Federal Police investigated transport outages in five states, with a formal inquiry opened in Sergipe
Result and turnout disputes
Brazil's Superior Electoral Court called the race late Sunday for Lula, who had 51.75 percent with 98.76 percent of ballots counted, against 48.25 percent for Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The runoff followed an unusually tight race that both camps contested procedurally. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered voting extended two hours nationwide after Lula's campaign alleged reduced public transport in key areas, while Bolsonaro's side cited heavy rains in the south. Al Jazeera reported that Federal Police were investigating transport disruptions in Bahia, Sao Paulo, Piaui, Sergipe and Alagoas, with a formal inquiry opened only in Sergipe. Al Jazeera said legal challenges were likely and that some voters could not cast ballots despite the extension.
Reversal of a regional trend
Lula, 80, won a seventh presidential election; Brazilian rules allow unlimited non-consecutive terms, per Al Jazeera. The BBC described the outcome as a first in modern Brazilian politics, since no candidate had lost the first round and won the runoff.
The BBC said the result bucked a regional shift toward the right, while noting that analysts saw a more conservative legislature limiting Lula's agenda. Bolsonaro's campaign had not conceded as of early Monday.
What did Brazil's official electoral body report for the runoff vote count?
Lula had 51.75 percent to Bolsonaro's 48.25 percent with 98.76 percent of ballots counted, per the Superior Electoral Court; Al Jazeera also cited 51 percent to 48.68 percent at an earlier count.
Sources & further reading
- Brazil elections: Lula beats Bolsonaro to win fourth term - follow live ↗BBC
- Incumbent Lula beats Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election ↗Al Jazeera
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