Lula Secures Fourth Term as Brazil Extends Polls Amid Chaos

Brazilian politics just shifted again as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential election on Sunday. With 100 percent of the vote counted, the electoral court reported that Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, defeated Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes. Lula captured 51.8 percent of the total, securing a non-consecutive fourth term that begins on January 5, 2027.

The night was marked by confusion at polling stations across the country. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ruled three minutes before the scheduled closing time to extend voting by two hours. Both candidates had requested the extension, though for different reasons. Lula cited transportation issues in São Paulo and Salvador, while Bolsonaro pointed to heavy rains in the south. The decision delayed the tally and left some voters and volunteers unsure if they should remain at their locations.

Lula addressed his supporters after the result was confirmed, thanking the Brazilian people and pledging to respect all citizens regardless of gender or religion. He also took a direct shot at his opponent, calling the victory a defeat for denialism and lies. "I must confess that every time I attended a debate, I felt embarrassed," he said. He emphasized Brazil's sovereignty, stating that the country would not accept being anyone's backyard.

In Rio de Janeiro, celebrations turned lively as cars beeped their horns. A woman dressed in red, the color associated with Lula's supporters, shouted at four men in yellow and green, the colors of Bolsonaro's camp, telling them to cry harder. In São Paulo, hundreds of supporters gathered on the city's main artery. Campaign videos showed Lula, wearing star-shaped red glasses, kissing his wife Rosângela Lula da Silva after the confirmation.

The election outcome keeps Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America with a GDP of 2.6 trillion U.S. dollars, somewhat independent from U.S. influence. Lula has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, and his win bucks a recent trend of right-of-centre leaders aligning with Washington. It leaves both Mexico and Brazil, the two most populous nations in the region, led by left-of-centre figures. Bolsonaro has said he wants the election annulled due to the polling extension, and his ally Nikolas Ferreira noted that Zanin, who made the extension ruling, was Lula's former lawyer.

Lula's victory comes after a tough re-election battle focused on the cost of living and security. He had lost the first round earlier this month by more than 2.2 million votes. To win back undecided voters, his campaign appealed to young people, organized street protests, and highlighted government initiatives. Both candidates have faced corruption suspicions involving family members and allies. This win likely marks the end of Lula's long political career, which began in the 1970s as a union leader and included two previous terms as president.