Lula claims fourth term in Brazil as Bolsonaro disputes vote extension

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has secured a record fourth term as Brazil's president.

The 80-year-old leftist defeated Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in Sunday's runoff. Electoral authorities declared Lula the winner after 98.76 percent of ballots were counted. He captured more than 51 percent of the vote against Bolsonaro's 48 percent. This marks the first time in nearly four decades that a candidate who finished second in the first round won the presidency.

The path to this victory was narrow. On October 4, Bolsonaro led the first round with 47.03 percent of the vote, edging out Lula's 45.16 percent. That gap represented 2.2 million votes. Lula spent the following three weeks targeting voters who had stayed home. He focused on the cost of living and the future of his social programs. Results remained close until the end, with Bolsonaro briefly leading before Lula pulled ahead in the northeast.

The final hours of voting were disrupted by a late decision to extend polling hours. Both campaigns requested more time. Lula's team claimed local officials cut public transport to hinder lower-income voters. Bolsonaro's campaign cited heavy rain and flooding. In Minas Gerais, the regional court reported that 349 polling locations lost power, though machines ran on backup batteries. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered stations to remain open until 7pm Brasilia time, two hours later than the usual close. Some stations had already shut down when the order arrived, creating confusion and turning away some voters.

Bolsonaro has vowed to annul the vote. He accused Zanin of changing the rules mid-game. Bolsonaro also noted that Lula appointed Zanin to the Supreme Court in 2023. He told supporters that recognizing the results is impossible. Brazil's Federal Police are investigating transport disruptions in five states. A court in Salvador ordered the arrest of the city's transport secretary over allegations he directed bus cuts.

Turnout figures suggest a shift in voter behavior. Andrei Roman of AtlasIntel cited a drop in abstention as a factor in Lula's win. In the first round, an estimated 33.4 million Brazilians, or 21 percent of the electorate, did not vote. Lula also pitched free weekend public transport to his working-class base in the final days.

The result adds pressure to US-Brazil relations. State Department officials reportedly pushed for sanctions to weaken Lula. Donald Trump said on Sunday that the US is watching the situation. Lula framed the election as a defense of sovereignty against foreign interference. In his victory speech, he called the outcome a defeat for denialism and lies.