Brazil Runoff: Lula Claims Fourth Term After Polls Stay Open for Two Extra Hours

The outcome of Brazil's presidential race was not settled until the lights were turned back on at polling stations across the country. What began as a routine Sunday evening count turned into a nationwide scramble after the Supreme Court ordered voting to continue for two additional hours. By the time Brazil's electoral court released the final figures, incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had secured 51.8 percent of the vote, edging out Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million ballots.

Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, claimed a non-consecutive fourth term in a result that defies the current political trend in Latin America. The victory ensures that the region's largest economy, with a GDP of 2.6 trillion US dollars, remains under a left-of-centre administration that has frequently clashed with Washington. This outcome stands in contrast to other nations in the region where right-of-centre leaders allied with U.S. President Donald Trump have recently won power.

The path to the final tally was marked by logistical confusion at the polls. Justice Cristiano Zanin, a former lawyer for Lula, ruled three minutes before the scheduled closing time to extend voting. The decision came after both campaigns raised concerns. Lula cited transportation issues for voters in São Paulo and Salvador, while Bolsonaro pointed to heavy rains in the south, a region where he holds a strong advantage. The extension delayed the counting process by two hours and left many observers uncertain about how many stations remained open.

In Rio de Janeiro, the voting machines at some polling stations had already been powered down when the announcement came, leaving officials to debate whether they could be restarted. In Brasilia, volunteers at a school counted the initial batches of ballots before departing 15 to 20 minutes after the original closing time. Bolsonaro later stated he wants the election annulled due to the late extension. His ally Nikolas Ferreira noted that the judge who made the decision had previously represented Lula.

The campaign focused on the cost of living and public security. Bolsonaro, who had led Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round, campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform and pledged to lower food prices. Lula countered by investing in government incentives and appealing to younger voters to defend democratic values. Both candidates faced scrutiny over corruption suspicions involving their families and allies. Bolsonaro is implicated in a sprawling scandal, while Lula was once convicted of corruption, a sentence that was later annulled after he spent 580 days in prison.

Lula addressed supporters after the electoral court confirmed his win, crediting the Brazilian people and pledging to respect all citizens regardless of gender or religion. He criticized his opponent, saying, "This was a defeat for denialism and lies. I must confess that every time I attended a debate, I felt embarrassed." He also emphasized national sovereignty, declaring, "Either the homeland remains free or we die for Brazil. This country will not accept being anyone's backyard."

Celebrations erupted in major cities as the results were confirmed. In São Paulo, hundreds of supporters gathered on the city's main artery. In Rio, a woman dressed in red, the color of Lula's supporters, shouted at men in Bolsonaro's yellow and green, telling them, "You lost! Cry harder!" Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman and Bolsonaro supporter, expressed his disappointment, saying, "I don't understand how people can vote for Lula. The country is collapsing."

Lula's political career spans decades, beginning in the 1970s as a union leader before he helped found the Workers' Party. He first won the presidency in 2002 and served until 2010. He was elected again in 2022, narrowly defeating Jair Bolsonaro. If confirmed by electoral authorities, his next term begins on January 5, 2027. At 81, he joins U.S. President Donald Trump and Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega as the oldest presidents in the Americas, all of whom are 80 years old or older.