Lula da Silva wins fourth term in Brazil's presidential election

Brazil’s electoral commission announced on Sunday that leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won the presidential election, defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a runoff to secure a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

Lula da Silva received 51.76% of the votes after nearly all ballots were counted, compared to 48.24% for his rival Flavio Bolsonaro, according to official results.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a left-wing Brazilian politician, was born in 1945 in Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil. He grew up in a poor family and began his career as a metalworker before rising to prominence as a union leader in the 1970s and co-founding the Workers' Party in 1980.

Lula first assumed the presidency in 2003 and served until 2010, gaining recognition for expanding social support programs and fighting poverty. After years of political and legal turmoil that ended with the annulment of corruption convictions against him in 2021, he returned to power in 2023 following his victory over former president Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 election.

With his victory in the 2026 election over right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president, Lula returns to the presidency for a fourth non-consecutive term, marking a new chapter in his decades-long political career.

His new term faces significant economic challenges, including a budget deficit, rising public debt, and higher living costs, alongside efforts to maintain social welfare programs and strengthen Brazil’s international presence.