BRASILIA, October 26. /Dunyo IA/. Brazil’s incumbent president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has been re-elected for another term, securing 51.79% of the vote in the presidential run-off and defeating right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who has refused to recognize the results, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing the AP.

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court reported that Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.21% of the vote. He described the two-hour extension of voting as “inexplicable” and said he would seek to have the results annulled, although both candidates’ campaign teams had previously requested that polling stations remain open longer.

The victory marks Lula da Silva’s fourth presidential election win. He previously served as president from 2003 to 2010 and returned to office in January 2023. After trailing Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round on October 4, Lula revived his campaign through large rallies and an extensive social media drive.

Despite his victory, Lula faces a deeply polarized country and a challenging political landscape. He will have to work with a Congress considered the most right-wing in Brazil’s democratic era. The Liberal Party (PL), which supports Flávio Bolsonaro, made significant gains in the parliamentary elections, potentially complicating the passage of government legislation.

On the international front, Brazil will need to navigate relations with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration amid competition between Washington and Beijing for influence in Latin America. Lula da Silva supports cooperation with China and opposes foreign interference in Brazil’s domestic affairs.

Lula’s victory was also welcomed by environmental groups, which had feared a weakening of environmental protections under Flávio Bolsonaro. They pointed to deforestation and forest fires in the Amazon during the presidency of his father, Jair Bolsonaro.

During the campaign, Lula pledged to promote social justice, expand opportunities for the population and overcome political divisions. However, opposition from conservative forces in Congress could make these goals more difficult to achieve.

Photo credit: Reuters