KABUL (Pajhwok): Brazilian President Luiz InacioLula da Silva has won a historic fourth term, defeating Senator Flavio Bolsonaro by more than four million votes, the country’s electoral court said.
Lula, a prominent figure on the global left, defeated the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro in a result that bucked a trend of right-wing election victories across Latin America, Reuters reported.
Flavio, who led the first round, said he would seek to annul the result following a Supreme Court ruling that extended voting by two hours. His refusal to concede echoed his father’s rejection of defeat in the 2022 election.
Analysts said an annulment was unlikely, despite the prospect of right-wing protests. Mario Braga, a Latin America analyst at risk consultancy RANE, said it was “very improbable” that protests would reverse the result.
Lula’s victory marks another comeback in his political career. The 80-year-old was jailed from 2018 to 2019 on corruption charges that were later overturned, allowing him to defeat Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.
“He is a statesman, a giant,” leftist lawmaker Erika Hilton, who was with Lula in Sao Paulo during the vote count, told Reuters.
Lula faced voter discontent over corruption scandals and rising prices, while critics questioned his ability to connect with workers in an increasingly app-based economy.
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