Lula Wins Brazil's Election; Bolsonaro Rejects Result
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was declared the winner of Sunday's runoff election, defeating opponent Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes with 51.8% of the total, according to Brazil's electoral court. Bolsonaro refused to concede and demanded the results be annulled. Bolsonaro's rejection followed a last-minute court decision to extend voting by two hours, which he criticized as changing rules mid-game. Lula's victory bucks a regional trend of Trump-aligned right-wing wins, and he pledged Brazil would not be "anyone's backyard." Lula, set to begin his fourth non-consecutive term on Jan. 5, 2027, overcame concerns about cost of living and security. Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, can request a recount or file a lawsuit, but legal experts say there is little basis to invalidate the election.