Isophoric News · Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Lula wins a fourth term in Brazil's presidential runoff, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro, according to the electoral court; Latin American leaders congratulate him
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a fourth, non-consecutive term in Sunday's runoff, the country's electoral court said, according to Reuters copy carried by The Independent, France 24 and The Jerusalem Post. They reported that he defeated Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who had finished first in the first round. Vote figures differ slightly by outlet and by how much of the count each used. France 24 gave 51.7 percent for Lula and 48.2 percent for Bolsonaro, citing official results. MercoPress, citing the Superior Electoral Court with 99.97 percent counted, gave 51.78 percent to 48.22 percent, or 64.2 million votes to 59.8 million, a margin of about 4.4 million. The Guardian, with nearly 99 percent counted, gave 51.75 percent to 48.25 percent and a margin of 4.3 million. Al Jazeera reported more than 51 percent for Lula, with more than 64 million ballots, and 48 percent, or more than 59 million, for Bolsonaro. ABC Australia said the court reported 100 percent counted and gave no percentages in the text I read. Several outlets said Lula is the first candidate since Brazil's return to democracy in the 1980s to win after finishing second in the first round (The Independent, France 24, The Jerusalem Post); MercoPress put the first-round result at 47.03 percent for Bolsonaro and 45.16 percent for Lula, and Al Jazeera said about 47 and 45. The Guardian reported that abstention fell from a record 21.08 percent in the first round to 19.21 percent, and Reuters copy said pollsters credited better-than-expected turnout; MercoPress said final polls had shown a statistical tie. In his victory speech Lula said, "I do not choose the Congress," Al Jazeera reported. Reuters copy reported that the Liberal Party and allies could control more than 280 lower house seats and up to 50 Senate seats, and quoted Oliver Stuenkel of the Getulio Vargas Foundation saying Lula is "likely to be a lame duck from the start." Reuters, as carried by The Straits Times, listed congratulations to Lula from the presidents of Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Cuba and Panama, and Al Jazeera reported that US Senator Bernie Sanders called the re-election "extraordinary." MercoPress reported that Argentine President Javier Milei had backed Bolsonaro during the campaign; the pages read carried no response from Milei or the White House.
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