Lula wins Brazil's election after rain delays the vote

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received 51.78 percent of valid votes in Brazil's presidential runoff. His challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, secured 48.22 percent. The Superior Electoral Court confirmed the result late Sunday night, granting Lula a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

Heavy rain and technical problems disrupted voting across the country. Polls were scheduled to close at 7 p.m. local time but remained open for two additional hours. The Supreme Court approved the extension after both campaigns requested it, citing downpours and transport disruptions that prevented some voters from reaching their polling stations.

Bolsonaro announced he would challenge the outcome. He stated that his legal team would seek to annul the elections. "We will engage our legal team and seek to have these elections annulled," Bolsonaro said. "I will not accept that the rules of the game have been arbitrarily changed, once again, by Lula's friends on the Federal Supreme Court."

Lula's victory marks a first in modern Brazilian political history. He is the first presidential candidate to lose the initial round of voting and then win the final runoff. His success runs counter to a regional trend where conservative governments have recently taken power in several Latin American nations. Lula is scheduled to begin his new term on January 5, 2027.

The incumbent has centered his platform on closer cooperation with emerging economies and a defense of national sovereignty. During his previous terms, he prioritized poverty reduction, social spending, and environmental protection. He has also maintained a diplomatic stance that criticizes Israel and the United States, calls for Palestinian statehood, and supports stronger ties with Iran and China.

Addressing supporters after the results were finalized, Lula pledged to dedicate himself to the role. "I will dedicate myself 24 hours a day to making this the country that everyone dreams of," he said. He emphasized the theme of sovereignty, stating, "In this election, we defeated the interference that was coming from the outside in. Brazil is no one's back yard."

Leaders from across the region sent congratulations to the winner. Among them were Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, United States Senator Bernie Sanders, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.