Lula defeats Bolsonaro in Brazil's runoff election, securing fourth term

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won Brazil's presidential election, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff with 51.7% of the vote, marking his fourth term after overcoming a first-round deficit. The election was marred by chaos, including blocked buses in Salvador and São Paulo, leading to a two-hour voting extension ordered by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin. Lula's recovery of abstainers proved crucial after Bolsonaro led by two million votes in the first round. Lula faces a hostile right-wing parliament and skeptical financial markets, while his economic policy will continue public spending and social programs, with foreign policy leaning closer to China than the Trump-aligned United States.