Lula defeats Trump-backed Bolsonaro to win Brazil's presidency
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won re-election, defeating Trump-backed challenger Flávio Bolsonaro with 51.8 percent of the vote, a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes. The result offers relief to critics of expanding American influence in Latin America. The victory caps a chaotic election evening after a Supreme Court justice extended voting by two hours, a decision that may trigger legal action from Bolsonaro. Lula's win bucks a regional trend of right-wing Trump-aligned candidates, leaving Mexico and Brazil with left-of-centre leaders. Lula's triumph positions Latin America's largest economy to remain independent of US pressure, despite Trump's tariffs. The soon-to-be 81-year-old, who previously spent time in prison on annulled convictions, will begin his non-consecutive fourth term on January 5, 2027.