Lula Wins Fourth Term in Brazil After Runoff Comeback

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth, non-consecutive term as Brazil’s president on Sunday, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely contested runoff.

Lula received about 51.8% of the vote, compared with Bolsonaro’s 48.2%, according to results cited by the South China Morning Post and Daily Maverick. He had placed second in the first round before reversing the result over the following three weeks, becoming the first Brazilian presidential candidate to make such a comeback, The Hindu reported.

A large WhatsApp campaign called “Lula’s Army” grew to 10.8 million followers between the two rounds, the BBC reported. Led by Congressman André Janones, it distributed videos, hashtags and specific online tasks to supporters. Lula’s allies credited the network with helping his campaign recover, although political scientists said its direct effect on voting could not be measured.

In a victory speech to supporters in São Paulo, Lula called the election “a defeat for denialism” and “a defeat for lies.” He pledged to govern for all Brazilians, expand public participation in decision-making and pursue regulation of digital platforms, which he accused of attempting to influence the election.

Lula is likely to face resistance in Congress, where conservative parties and lawmakers aligned with agribusiness and mining interests strengthened their positions. His victory also preserves Brazil’s emphasis on BRICS and Global South cooperation, while environmental campaigners expect his administration to continue pursuing its goal of ending deforestation by 2030.