Lula Wins Fourth Term as Brazil's Global Leftist Leader

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 81, has won a fourth term in office, defying predictions despite his age and political challenges. The victory extends his legacy as a global leftist leader. Lula, a former union leader and founder of the Workers' Party, previously governed from 2003 to 2010 and returned in 2023 after a corruption conviction was annulled. His latest term was marked by a centrist coalition, and he now faces a hostile Congress. His platform emphasizes state-led investment and social programs, but he must manage high public debt. Internationally, he advocates a multipolar diplomacy, balancing ties with China, Russia, and the US, while Brazil remains a key leftist bulwark in South America.