Lula defeats Bolsonaro heir to win fourth term

Brazilian voters re-elected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as president in the 2026 election, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro by over 4.4 million votes. Lula now faces the task of removing his defeated rival from the political record. Lula won a fourth term despite a challenging incumbency, with his victory framed as a global case of democracy triumphing over authoritarian threats. His campaign included promises of digital communication, and he now faces coalition-building pressures from allies and the Centrão party. The election was marked by 45 episodes of political violence with ten deaths, including three Indigenous people. Lula's new government will need to address unfulfilled promises on prosperity, security, and inclusion, while managing a ministry criticized for lacking gender and racial diversity.