Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has confirmed he will seek a fourth presidential term in next year’s elections.
Currently, Mr. Lula is visiting Indonesia as part of his foreign policy initiatives. He shared the news of his Southeast Asia trip alongside President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta.
As he approaches his 80th birthday on Monday, Lula insists he feels as energetic as he did at 30. He discussed his plans for the 2026 elections with Prabowo, expressing a desire to strengthen ties between Brazil and Indonesia.
“I’m turning 80, but I believe I have the same energy as I did three decades ago, so I will run for a fourth term in Brazil,” Lula stated. He added, “My current term wraps up at the end of 2026, but we are gearing up for more elections.”
Lula, a prominent figure in the Labor Party (PT), previously lost a presidential bid. After winning a second term in 2006, he served until January 2011, when his successor, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached in 2016 over corruption allegations. Rousseff is now involved with a BRICS establishment competing with the World Bank and IMF.
Lula planned to run for a third term in 2018 but was imprisoned on corruption charges linked to the Operation Car Wash investigation, leading to a victory for Jair Bolsonaro in that election.
In 2021, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal annulled Lula’s conviction, clearing his path for the 2022 presidential race, although he ultimately lost to Bolsonaro again. Lula’s current term is set from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026, under Brazil’s four-year presidential term rules, allowing for immediate re-election under certain conditions.
Recently, Bolsonaro received a 27-year prison sentence related to attempts to overturn the 2022 election results, with evidence suggesting involvement in riots that occurred in January 2023. Despite his absence during the riots, he remains under house arrest while awaiting a decision on his sentencing.
Bolsonaro was previously barred from running for office until 2030, yet recent polls indicate he remains a significant contender, nearly even with Lula in hypothetical matchups for the 2026 race.
In July, President Trump signed an order labeling Brazil a national security threat, instituting a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to the US.
The order cited Bolsonaro’s political persecution as a key reason. STF judge Alexandre de Moraes faced sanctions related to human rights due to his actions against Bolsonaro and other Brazilian conservatives.
Initially, Lula took a strong stance against the tariffs, refusing to engage in talks with Trump and labeling the US president an “unjust liar.” In light of this, he reportedly even envisioned imprisoning Trump.
A brief phone call occurred between Lula and Trump in early October after their meeting at the UN General Assembly, which Trump described as “very good.”
This information was shared by Brazilian state media Agencia Brasil, pointing out the possibility of upcoming discussions, potentially including a meeting with Trump during his visit to Malaysia this weekend.
