Lula takes 51.8 percent of votes to win Brazil's presidency

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the Brazilian presidential runoff on Sunday, securing 51.8 percent of the total votes. The electoral court confirmed he finished 4.4 million ballots ahead of his rival, Flávio Bolsonaro. This result ends a tight contest that saw the first-round loser claim victory for the first time since 1985.

Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, addressed crowds in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro after the count was finalized. He called the election a defeat for denialism and promised to respect all Brazilians regardless of gender or religion. He emphasized national independence, stating that the country will not accept being anyone's backyard. In Rio, car horns sounded and crowds cheered as the result was confirmed.

Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat immediately after the tally was complete. He called for the results to be annulled, citing disorder at polling places caused by a late extension of voting hours. Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, whom Lula defeated in the 2022 race. His objection follows a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, who extended voting by two hours.

Zanin issued the ruling three minutes before the original 5 p.m. local closing time. The decision responded to requests from both campaigns. Lula's team pointed to bus delays in São Paulo and Salvador, cities that typically support the incumbent. Bolsonaro's team cited heavy rain in southern Brazil, an area where he holds a advantage. It is not clear how many stations stayed open, with some in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro closing near the original deadline.

Bolsonaro accused Zanin of changing the rules mid-game, noting that the justice once served as Lula's lawyer. He described the results as impossible to recognize given the circumstances. It remains uncertain if his complaint meets the legal threshold for annulment. He may request a recount if he finds evidence of fraud, though such a move might not change the final margin.

The victory runs counter to a regional trend of right-of-center, Trump-aligned candidates winning presidencies. Brazil, with an annual GDP of 2.6 trillion US dollars, will likely continue resisting U.S. demands despite higher tariffs. Lula has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and his re-election limits the growth of Washington's influence in the region.

Lula faces a difficult path after trailing by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round earlier this month. He reorganized his campaign to court young voters and mobilize support for democratic values. He also expanded government initiatives and warned of another Bolsonaro administration. Voters focused on cost of living and security, with Bolsonaro campaigning on crime and food prices while Lula used costly incentives to win undecided voters. Both men face corruption suspicions involving relatives.

Lula is due to start his fourth non-consecutive term on Jan. 5, 2027. He is expected to be in his final campaign. At age 80, he joins Donald Trump and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega as the oldest presidents in the Americas.