Lula defeats Bolsonaro clan again, securing historic fourth term in Brazil

Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday's presidential election, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff and securing a historic fourth term starting January 5, 2027. He overcame a first-round deficit to beat the Bolsonaro clan for the second consecutive time. Lula reversed a 2.2 million-vote first-round gap to win by over four million votes, marking the first comeback from second place in a Brazilian runoff since the military dictatorship ended. He cited foreign interference via digital platforms as a challenge overcome, while Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated him and Argentina's Javier Milei remained silent. Lula's campaign mobilized voters by warning of democratic risks and social setbacks under Bolsonaro, defended social programs like Bolsa Família, and linked his rival to austerity policies. Flávio Bolsonaro, endorsed by his father Jair, struggled to regain momentum in the final weeks.