Brazil's Electoral Court Confirms Lula's Victory Amid Late Voting Chaos

The Brazilian electoral court declared Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the winner of the presidential run-off on Sunday.

Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, secured 51.8 percent of the ballots. He finished nearly 4.4 million votes ahead of his opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro. This result gives Lula a fourth term in office, though he will serve non-consecutively starting January 5, 2027.

The election was marked by a last-minute procedural change that upset Flávio Bolsonaro. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered polling stations to remain open for two additional hours. The ruling came three minutes before the original 5 p.m. local closing time. Zanin cited requests from both campaigns, noting issues with voter transport in São Paulo and Salvador for Lula's team, and heavy rain in southern Brazil for Bolsonaro's team.

Flávio Bolsonaro rejected the outcome immediately after the count concluded. He argued that Zanin, a former lawyer for Lula, changed the rules mid-game. Bolsonaro stated it was impossible to recognize the results given the circumstances. He may file for a recount if evidence of fraud emerges, though legal experts are unsure if his objection meets the threshold for full annulment.

Lula addressed supporters in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the win. He described the result as a defeat for denialism and lies. He also emphasized national independence, stating that Brazil would not accept being anyone's backyard. In Rio, residents honked car horns and cheered in the streets as the victory became official.

This victory reverses a regional trend of right-of-centre, Trump-aligned candidates gaining power. Brazil, with an annual GDP of $2.6 trillion, will continue to resist U.S. demands despite higher tariffs. The result is a setback for those expecting Washington's influence to expand across Latin America under the current U.S. administration.

The path to this win was unusual. Flávio Bolsonaro had led Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round held earlier this month. Sunday's outcome is the first time since the military dictatorship ended in 1985 that the runner-up from the first round won the presidency. Voters focused on cost of living and security during the campaign.

Bolsonaro campaigned on tough crime policies and lower food prices. Lula spent on incentives to win undecided voters and reorganized his campaign after the first round. He courted young voters and mobilized supporters to defend democratic values. Both candidates have faced corruption suspicions involving relatives and allies.

Lula is expected to be in his final campaign. He is currently the oldest president in the Americas, along with U.S. President Donald Trump and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who are all aged 80.