Lula wins fourth term as Brazil's president, defeating Bolsonaro

Brazil's veteran leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been re-elected president after a fiercely contested campaign, defeating right-wing rival Flavio Bolsonaro. This marks Lula's fourth presidential election victory. Lula previously served two terms from January 2003 to December 2010 and returned to office in January 2023. His path to Sunday's second-round victory was difficult, as Bolsonaro had won the first round on October 4, and few expected Lula to overturn the result within three weeks. Lula's win contrasts with a broader Latin American political trend where voters have favored right-wing leaders. The White House likely preferred a conservative leader in Brazil, given US interests in regional influence and countering China's presence. Environmentalists welcomed the result, fearing Bolsonaro would have weakened protections for the Amazon rainforest.