'I feel so happy!': Ecstasy, relief among Lula supporters in Brazil

Ecstatic supporters celebrated the surprising election victory of Brazil's leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday, parading down São Paulo's Paulista Avenue with joyful chants of "Let's go, Lula!" Thousands of people filled the streets after the leftist incumbent defeated his right-wing rival Jair Bolsonaro, who has refused to accept the result. With 51.8 percent of the votes, Lula secured a decisive win over Bolsonaro, who received 48.2 percent.

For 43-year-old Anna Zanatta, Lula's triumph symbolized freedom, democracy, and her nation's history. She expressed her happiness by waving a flag bearing the message "Anti-fascist Action" and teared up in joy before bursting into tears. Zanatta feared a Bolsonaro victory would threaten Brazil's democracy, reflecting on her own experience under a military dictatorship that ruled from 1964 to 1985.

Doorman Alfonso dos Reis, 64, carried a sign reading "Lula again with the strength of the people" alongside a photo of the president, proclaiming, "We're going to build a much better country." The crowd marched through São Paulo's main avenue, turning it into a sea of yellow and green as the Brazilian flag adorned every inch of the avenue. Fireworks lit up the sky as cars honked their horns in celebration.

The atmosphere was charged with anti-establishment sentiment, with activists like 33-year-old theater actor Mateus Freitas demanding no amnesty for Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula. Freitas yelled, "No amnesty! No amnesty!" referencing Bolsonaro's campaign promise to free him if elected.

Freitas emphasized that Lula's government represented inclusivity for minorities and workers. Unlike a recent wave of right-wing victories in Latin America, Flavio Bolsonaro's win marked a significant shift away from a rightward turn in Brazil. Architect Felipe Rodrigues, 53, expressed his relief at Lula's victory, appreciating the president's ongoing efforts to improve the lives of the poor despite the global trend of far-right governments.