Brazil’s Lula Wins Fourth Presidential Term
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the 80-year-old socialist leader, has been elected president of Brazil for the fourth time after a runoff election on Sunday. He narrowly defeated conservative Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a contest marked by allegations of irregularities and a Supreme Court decision to extend voting hours.
With only 99.76 percent of the votes counted, Lula currently leads with 51.75 percent, approximately 64.1 million votes. In contrast, Senator Bolsonaro has garnered 48.25 percent, roughly 59.7 million votes, a gap seen by officials as insurmountable given the remaining ballots.
Lula’s return to power in 2022 was significant, especially considering his past as a convicted felon. He had been sentenced to over 20 years for misusing public funds during his earlier presidential terms. It wasn’t until 2021 that the Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) annulled his conviction on a technical basis, allowing him to run again without presenting new exculpatory evidence.
Bolsonaro, a senator and son of Lula’s 2022 rival, announced his candidacy in December following his father’s conviction for “crimes against democracy.” The elder Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest due to health issues and is barred from seeking public office until he turns 105.
This election is distinct because Lula managed to win after previously losing in the first round—a rare feat in Brazilian politics. A candidate must secure over 50 percent of the vote in the first round to win outright; otherwise, the top two candidates vie in a runoff. In the first round, which Lula lost, he received about 45 percent of the votes while Bolsonaro had 47.12 percent, leading to a runoff despite earlier predictions of Bolsonaro’s slight edge.
The election was further complicated by claims that the voting process was hindered due to transportation issues. Critics pointed to the STF’s decision to extend voting hours after Lula’s campaign raised concerns about bus shortages in cities like Salvador, Lauro de Freitas, and Feira de Santana, traditionally strong areas for the Workers’ Party (PT).
Justice Cristiano Zanin from the STF unilaterally decided to extend polling hours by two hours, a move that benefited Lula this time after a similar attempt in 2022 was unsuccessful. The ruling was contentious, as it was made by just one justice and involved specific polling stations allowed to remain open past the original closing time of 5 p.m.
Additionally, the transport secretary for Salvador, Pablo Souza, was reportedly arrested in connection with the bus transportation situation that was alleged to have affected voter turnout.
