Lula wins fourth term in Brazil, defeating Trump-aligned rival
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, was reelected Sunday, securing his non-consecutive fourth term and keeping Latin America's largest economy independent from Washington. With 100% of votes counted, the electoral court confirmed Lula's unassailable lead, though opponent Flávio Bolsonaro may challenge the result after a Supreme Court justice extended voting by two hours. Lula's victory bucks a regional trend of Trump-aligned right-of-center candidates winning. The soon-to-be 81-year-old's triumph leaves Mexico and Brazil with left-of-center leaders and positions Brazil's $2.6 trillion GDP economy to resist US tariff pressure. His next term begins Jan. 5, 2027, likely marking the veteran leader's final political chapter.