Brazil's Superior Electoral Court declared incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the winner of Sunday's runoff with 51.79 percent of the vote, securing a record fourth term after trailing in the first round.
Brazil's Superior Electoral Court confirmed on Sunday that incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential runoff with 51.79 percent of valid votes to 48.21 percent for Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
Lula received about 64.3 million votes against roughly 59.8 million for Bolsonaro, a margin of more than 4.4 million ballots according to the final count. He becomes the first candidate since Brazil's return to civilian rule in 1985 to win a runoff after finishing second in the first round on October 4.
Bolsonaro, son of the jailed former president, refused to concede and called for the results to be annulled, citing a last-minute Supreme Court order that extended polling by two hours. The electoral court said the outcome was final.
The court's announcement confirms the percentages and the historic nature of the comeback. Reuters, BBC, the Guardian and the New York Times all report the same final tallies and Bolsonaro's rejection of the result. No independent source has disputed the official numbers.
Lula told supporters in São Paulo the result was a defeat for denialism and that democracy had prevailed. His fourth non-consecutive term begins on January 5, 2027. Markets had priced in a Bolsonaro victory; the real and stocks are expected to react when trading resumes. The next confirmation will be the formal proclamation by the electoral court and any legal challenge from the loser.
People Sentiments Public Mood: Neutral
- Lula: This election was a defeat for denialism and a victory for democracy.
- Flávio Bolsonaro: I will not accept this result and will seek its annulment.