Lula's seventh act: from shoeshiner to Brazil's president again

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff on Sunday with 51.75% of the vote, defeating opponent Flávio Bolsonaro and securing an unprecedented fourth term as president of Latin America's largest economy. Lula's victory marks the first time in Brazil's democratic history that a candidate has won the presidency after losing the first round. At nearly 81, he adapted by using a smartphone for the first time, mobilizing millions of WhatsApp supporters and street demonstrations to overcome a two-point deficit. Born in poverty in 1945, Lula worked as a shoeshiner before rising through union leadership during the military dictatorship. He founded the Workers' Party, served two terms from 2003-2010, and returned to power in 2022 after corruption convictions were annulled.