Lula thanks Brazil’s youth for historic election win

On Sunday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva clinched an unexpected fourth term in a runoff vote, the electoral court announced. This surprising result defied polls, historical precedents, and the prevailing wave of right-wing victories sweeping Latin America. Lula, a revered figure on the global left, defeated Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the country's former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The senator had emerged victorious in the first round of the election and aimed to reignite his father's far-right movement.

Lula's victory appeared uncertain as voters grew increasingly disillusioned with him and his Workers Party due to ongoing corruption scandals and rising prices. Amidst broader societal changes, the former metalworker and union leader seemed to have grown distant from the growing ranks of informal workers in Brazil's app-based economy.

A 80-year-old statesman, Lula had already served two terms as president between 2003 and 2011. His previous imprisonment for corruption charges, which were later overturned, paved the way for his 2022 election win.

Lula's win marks another comeback in his career, which has been marked by numerous surprising results. According to leftist federal lawmaker Erika Hilton, who was present during the vote count, Lula is a "statesman, a giant." Pollsters suggested better-than-expected voter turnout contributed to Lula's triumph. Leonardo Barreto, co-founder of consultancy Think Policy, noted that voters opted for Lula's familiar embrace over Bolsonaro's novelty, weighing the risks of change against the assurance of known rights.

During the campaign, Lula highlighted a record of falling poverty and inequality, as well as record lows in unemployment, illiteracy, and deforestation during his third term. He warned Bolsonaro would cut welfare spending, roll back social advances, and cede Brazil's sovereignty to U.S. President Donald Trump. Lula's victory denies Trump a significant addition to the increasing number of right-wing Latin American governments that have aligned with Washington's agenda on security and migration.

Former Lula foreign minister Celso Amorim told Reuters that Lula would be crucial for establishing a point of balance in Latin America. As the first candidate since Brazil's return to democracy in the 1980s to be elected after finishing second in the first round, Lula's victory is a testament to his enduring influence and political acumen.