Lula wins fourth term in Brazil, faces hostile Congress and divided nation

Brazil's left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term in a runoff election, defeating right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro with 51.79% of the vote, though Bolsonaro has refused to concede and plans to challenge the result. Bolsonaro cited the two-hour extension of polling as "inexplicable" and told supporters he would seek the election's annulment, despite his own campaign having requested the longer voting hours. Lula's victory marks a comeback after losing the first round on 4 October, driven by street demonstrations and a social media push. Lula's new term, beginning 5 January 2027, faces a hostile right-wing Congress and a deeply divided nation, with over 48% backing Bolsonaro. He also confronts potential friction with US President Donald Trump, who favors conservative leaders in Latin America, though environmentalists welcome the win amid Amazon deforestation concerns.