Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won an unprecedented fourth term, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in the October 25 runoff, as reported by The Hill. The result is being read as a setback for US President Donald Trump, who backed the Bolsonaro camp.
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A Comeback Few Expected
Flávio Bolsonaro finished first in the October 4 first round, and polls favoured him in the runoff. Lula still won by nearly 4.4 million votes, taking 51.8 per cent. The 80-year-old leader had told supporters earlier that he was “very good in the knockout stage.”
Bolsonaro Refuses To Concede
Bolsonaro rejected the outcome and told supporters he did not recognise it. The Washington Post reports that he also called for the election to be annulled. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after the 2022 election.
What Trump Had Riding On It
Flávio Bolsonaro had promised to join Trump‘s “Shield of the Americas” security initiative and to pardon his father. In June, Trump called Brazil “dangerous politically.” Lula replied that Brazil’s elections are Brazil’s business.
Trump’s Silence, Trump Jr.’s Criticism
Trump had not commented on the result at the time of reporting. His son, Donald Trump Jr., criticised the outcome. World leaders, meanwhile, congratulated Lula.
A Complicated Relationship
The two leaders have not been simple enemies. Trump hit Brazil with a 50 percent tariff last year, citing Jair Bolsonaro’s trial. In May, however, he called Lula “a very dynamic president” after their White House meeting, and tariffs and sanctions were later eased.
Lula’s win also cuts against the rightward shift seen across Latin America. His fourth term begins on January 5, 2027, and how Washington responds will shape trade and security ties between the two countries.
