Lula Wins Brazil Runoff, Fourth Term Starts January 2027
Brazil's electoral court says Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday's runoff with 51.8% of the vote, beating Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes.
The story in focus
Brazil's electoral court announced that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday's presidential runoff with 51.8% of the vote, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes. The result gives Lula a non-consecutive fourth term beginning January 5, 2027, at a time when the U.S. has imposed higher tariffs on Brazilian exports.
- Brazil's electoral court announced Lula won the runoff with 51.8% of the vote, with all votes counted.
- Lula led Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes.
- The result gives Lula a non-consecutive fourth term that begins January 5, 2027.
- Brazil's economy has a GDP of about $2.6 trillion per year.
- A Supreme Court justice extended voting by two hours, and Bolsonaro may pursue legal action.
Vote count and result
CBS News reports that Brazil's electoral court declared Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the winner of Sunday's presidential runoff after 100% of votes were counted. He received 51.8% of the total, a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes over Flávio Bolsonaro, according to the network.
The announcement followed a last-minute decision by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin to extend voting by two hours, a move CBS News said could prompt legal action from Bolsonaro. The delays postponed the tally.
Term and context
CBS News reports that the victory gives Lula his non-consecutive fourth term as president, beginning January 5, 2027. The result, if confirmed by electoral authorities, makes him the first second-place first-round finisher to win the presidency since Brazil's military dictatorship ended in 1985.
The network said the outcome keeps Latin America's largest economy independent of the United States despite higher U.S. tariffs on Brazilian exports. Brazil's GDP is about $2.6 trillion per year, CBS News reported.
When does Lula's new term begin?
CBS News reports that Lula's non-consecutive fourth term as Brazil's president begins on January 5, 2027.
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