Brazil elections 2026 results: Explained — How Lula made surprise comeback | List of factors worked in his favour
Elected as the Brazil president for the record fourth time, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has cemented his place as one of the world’s longest-serving democratically elected leaders.
Brazil's presidential election concluded on Sunday, with incumbent leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) securing a historic comeback victory. The 80-year-old politician, who previously served two terms as president between 2003 and 2010 and again from 2023, defied predictions to win the runoff election after losing the first round.
Lula received 51.8 percent of the vote, while far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro garnered 48.2 percent, a difference of over four million votes. This is Lula's record fourth term as Brazil's president, starting on January 5 at the age of 81. The victory comes as a surprise in Latin America, where voters have generally shifted to the right in recent elections, often supporting allies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
For many Brazilians, Lula's win symbolizes a vote to prevent the Bolsonaros from taking power and uphold the country's democracy. Lula's campaign focused on addressing economic concerns of ordinary voters, promising to increase welfare payments under Bolsa Família, propose a shorter workweek without pay cuts, and pursue debt relief.
The victory may fuel tensions between Brazil and the U.S. as Lula's left-wing stance contrasts with Trump's support for right-wing leaders in South America.
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