Lula wins Brazil election, vows democracy will prevail

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a historic fourth term as Brazil's president, defeating far-right opponent Flávio Bolsonaro and vowing that dictatorship and fascism will never return to the country. Lula secured 64.2 million votes to Bolsonaro's 59.8 million in Sunday's runoff, a 51.79% to 48.21% victory, after bouncing back from a first-round defeat in early October. Bolsonaro rejected the result, while leaders worldwide congratulated Lula, with his health minister calling it a significant signal to Latin America and the world. Lula's win carries major implications for the Amazon rainforest, as his former environment minister warned Bolsonaro would have continued deforestation. Bolsonaro faces federal investigations and may lose parliamentary immunity in February, with some supporters anticipating he could join his father, who is serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt.