--- title: "Lula Wins Presidential Election Runoff in Brazil" url: https://newscentral.site/lula-wins-presidential-election-runoff-in-brazil/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-10-26T02:01:30.000Z updated: 2026-10-26T09:38:04.691Z id: 0d48030f-aad0-481a-bf66-9d6e9402804e source: "France 24 English https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261025-live-voting-under-way-across-brazil-in-tight-presidential-run-off-between-lula-and-bolsonaro" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/lula-wins-presidential-election-runoff-in-brazil/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Lula Wins Presidential Election Runoff in Brazil Left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured 51.7% of the votes to win the presidential election runoff against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Brazil has witnessed a historic shift in its politics as left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured 51.7% of the votes to win the presidential election runoff against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The outcome marks a significant upset for Bolsonaro, who had initially trailed incumbent Lula by just two percentage points in the first round on October 4, securing 47% compared to Lula's 45%. In a dramatic turn of events, Lula's campaign gained momentum over the next three weeks, with his supporters mobilizing across social media platforms and taking to the streets in massive numbers. A key factor was the creation of a WhatsApp channel dubbed "Lula's Army", which has attracted an impressive 8.5 million subscribers. This grassroots effort helped turn the tables for Lula, a former labour leader who sought and secured his fourth non-consecutive term as president. He has framed this election as his final battle, hinting at a desire to retire from politics after this victory. Brazil's presidential election outcome marks a significant departure from the trend of right-wing candidates winning elections in the region over the past year. In Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, right-wing leaders had taken office with Washington's backing. These countries have all joined the US military cooperation initiative known as the Shield of the Americas, which aims to consolidate a bloc favorable to Donald Trump's policies. However, Lula's win represents a setback for the Republican president, who had supported the Bolsonaro family and their bid for power in Brazil. Lula's supporters are celebrating this historic victory, which is being seen as a significant step towards restoring democracy in Brazil after years of right-wing dominance. Bolsonaro's speech was marked by a defiant tone as he refused to acknowledge the election results. He emphasized the need for Brazil to develop its own artificial intelligence capabilities in order to reduce reliance on foreign technology, specifically citing the United States. This stance is part of Bolsonaro's broader assertion that his country must assert its sovereignty and resist external influences. In his words, Brazil had to overcome the interference of digital platforms, which he implied would need to be regulated. Bolsonaro's comments come amidst a backdrop where several Latin American leaders have received support from foreign figures, including former US President Donald Trump. Trump has publicly endorsed candidates in Colombia and Ecuador, as well as members of the Bolsonaro family during their campaign. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his gratitude to the Brazilian people for their support during his victory speech from São Paulo. He commended the youth who took to the streets to defend democracy and those who helped convince others of the importance of voting in protecting the country's democratic institutions. Lula also touched on the controversy surrounding Meta, which had reached the courts, stating that his administration would need to regulate digital platforms to prevent external interference in future elections. Notably, he emphasized the significance of digital communications in his upcoming government, highlighting an area where he had doubled down on efforts during his reelection campaign. The outcome of Brazil's election marked a departure from the recent trend in Latin America, where right-wing candidates have often emerged victorious. Leftist former presidents from across the region congratulated Lula on his win, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric praising him for continuing to fight for a more just world. Bolivian leader Evo Morales also celebrated Lula's victory, describing it as a renewed source of hope for people fighting for social justice and dignity. Former Colombian President joined in the congratulations, acknowledging Lula's achievement. Lula's campaign had focused on winning over new voters in the final three weeks to make up for Flavio Bolsonaro's initial lead after the first round. Securing votes from those who had abstained was crucial in this effort, and data showed that abstention rates decreased by nearly three million compared to the first round. According to official figures, approximately 33.4 million people abstained from voting on October 4, a drop of almost four million from the runoff's 30.4 million abstentions, with Lula ultimately winning by just over four million votes. The electoral landscape of Brazil has undergone a significant shift since the first round of voting, where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva trailed behind right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro by a considerable margin. However, in a stunning reversal of fortunes, Lula emerged victorious in the runoff election with a total of 51.79% of the votes, while Bolsonaro secured 48.21%. This outcome marks a historic milestone for Brazil, as it is the first time since the country's return to democracy that a candidate who lost in the initial round has gone on to win the presidency. As the vote count continued, Lula's lead over Bolsonaro grew steadily, with the left-wing president eventually securing 50.92% of the votes to his opponent's 49.08%. The margin between the two candidates remained narrow throughout the count, but Lula's steady gains ultimately propelled him into a commanding position. According to analysts, the outcome was not entirely unexpected, given the momentum that had built up in Lula's favor over the course of the election campaign. The vote count is continuing in Brazil's presidential runoff election, with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro now leading President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by a narrow margin of less than one percentage point. According to the latest figures from the Superior Electoral Court, Bolsonaro has 50.41% of the votes, while Lula trails behind with 49.59%. The count shows that Bolsonaro's support is concentrated in southern Brazil, whereas Lula remains strong in northern states. This regional divide mirrors the pattern seen in the first round of voting. As the vote count continues, it appears that Bolsonaro has overcome his initial deficit and taken the lead. His margin of victory has grown steadily as more votes are counted, with him now holding a significant advantage over Lula. The Superior Electoral Court had suspended its count after the Supreme Court ordered an extension to voting hours by two hours. However, the court is now resuming its tally, focusing on polling stations where voting had not been completed by 5:00 p.m. Brasilia time. In response to the Supreme Court's decision, the Workers' Party and the Liberal Party urged their supporters to continue casting their ballots. Local media reported that several polling stations had already closed when the extension was announced. The vote count is ongoing, with both candidates still in the running for the presidency of Brazil. The outcome remains uncertain as the Superior Electoral Court continues its tally of votes from around the country. The presidential runoff election in Brazil has taken a dramatic turn after Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered an extension of voting hours on Sunday. Voting was initially set to end at 5:00 p.m. Brasilia time (8:00 p.m. GMT), but the two-hour extension, until 7:00 p.m. Brasilia time (10:00 p.m. GMT), will allow voters in certain regions more time to cast their ballots. The decision was made in response to a request from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign, which cited concerns about delays in transportation affecting voting times in several municipalities. The Liberal Party, which supports Bolsonaro, has also raised similar complaints, attributing the delays to heavy rains and flooding that have hit some states. However, the Superior Electoral Court has paused its vote-counting process pending further instructions from the Supreme Court on how to proceed with the extended voting period. This development adds another layer of uncertainty to an already contentious election, with Bolsonaro's campaign refusing to acknowledge any potential delay or irregularity in the electoral process. The outcome remains uncertain as the Superior Electoral Court continues its tally of votes from around the country, leaving the future of Brazil's presidency hanging in the balance. --- Source: [France 24 English](https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261025-live-voting-under-way-across-brazil-in-tight-presidential-run-off-between-lula-and-bolsonaro) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/lula-wins-presidential-election-runoff-in-brazil/