Lula's fourth term: a divided Brazil, hostile Congress, and Trump pressure

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces a divided nation, a hostile Congress, strained public finances, and pressure from US President Donald Trump as he begins his unprecedented fourth term. Lula won Sunday's runoff with 51.7 percent of the vote against Flavio Bolsonaro's 48.2 percent, reflecting a decade-long political split. He lacks a congressional majority, with Bolsonaro's Liberal Party holding 121 of 513 deputies, forcing reliance on the "Centrao" bloc for support. Economically, Brazil struggles with high public debt exceeding 80 percent of GDP and elevated interest rates, risking crisis. Lula also faces security demands, including tackling criminal groups, while managing US relations amid Trump's tariffs and regional "Orange Wave" alignment.