Lula wins Brazil's presidency as Bolsonaro allies challenge result

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday's runoff election, but Senator Flávio Bolsonaro is challenging the results, while former U.S. President Donald Trump baselessly claimed the vote was rigged. Lula secured over 64 million votes against nearly 60 million for Bolsonaro, a decisive margin aided by a surge of 14.1 million new runoff voters, most of whom backed Lula. Brazil's electoral authority and regional leaders have recognized the victory, making a successful challenge unlikely. The dispute stems from a last-minute voting extension, though Brazil's electronic voting system is considered reliable. Lula faces a polarized nation, a right-wing Congress, and potential fiscal challenges ahead of his January 2027 inauguration.