Lula wins Brazil's presidential runoff, defeating Bolsonaro

Brazil's left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won the presidential runoff against right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, securing another term with 51.75 percent of the vote. The 80-year-old incumbent's victory blocks the Bolsonaro camp's attempt to shift Latin America's largest nation rightward. Lula's win was driven by social and economic achievements, including record-low unemployment and reduced poverty, though high living costs and debt concerns fueled voter discontent. The runoff marked the first time since 1989 that a candidate trailing after the first round won the presidency, with Lula having trailed by two points initially. Lula now faces a difficult fourth term with a strengthened right-wing opposition, as Bolsonaro's party holds the largest bloc in Congress. He must also navigate tensions with the U.S. under Donald Trump, while maintaining Brazil's role as a counterweight to the regional rightward shift in Latin America.