NewzRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, was reelected Sunday in a result that provides relief to critics of widening U.S. influence in Latin America.With 100% of the vote counted, Brazil’s electoral court announced that the soon to be 81-year-old Lula had a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes over opponent Flávio Bolsonaro, giving him 51.8% of the total vote.
Bolsonaro quickly refused to concede defeat and asked for the election results to be annulled after an evening of chaos at some polling places that followed a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours.Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, whom Lula defeated to take the presidency in 2022.Lula's triumph bucks a regional trend of victories for right-of-center presidential candidates allied with Trump. It also means Latin America’s largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion per year, will likely continue defying Trump’s demands, despite the pressure of increased tariffs.Lula says Brazil is ‘not anyone’s backyard'A video published by Lula’s campaign shows the veteran leader celebrating with First Lady Rosângela da Silva and allies after his runoff victory was confirmed by Brazil’s electoral court. Wearing star-shaped red glasses, he kissed his wife.
Thousands of his supporters began gathering on Sao Paulo’s main artery to celebrate the victory.In addressing supporters, Lula expressed his gratitude to the Brazilian people, and pledged to respect all Brazilians, regardless of gender or religion. He also attacked Bolsonaro.“This was a defeat for denialism and lies. I must confess that every time I attended a debate, I felt embarrassed,” he said.He also doubled down on his commitment to Brazil’s sovereignty.“Either the homeland remains free, or we die for Brazil,” he said.
“This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard.”In Rio de Janeiro, cars beeped their horns and a woman dressed in red — the color of Lula supporters — shouted “You lost! Cry harder!” to four men in yellow and green sipping beers, Bolsonaro's signature colors. A huge roar echoed in the street as the result was confirmed.Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman and supporter of Bolsonaro, said that another Lula government would harm the economy.
He pointed to financial markets’ positive reaction to the result of the first round, when… With 100% of the vote counted, Brazil's electoral court announced that the soon-to-be 81-year-old Mr. Lula had a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes — 51.8% of the total vote — over opponent Flávio Bolsonaro
Senator Flavio Bolsonaro called the extension of voting hours 'unacceptable' and a 'dirty trick' despite also requesting extra time for some regions. (EPA Images pic)BRASILIA: Brazil's leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pulled off a dramatic comeback on Sunday as he clinched a re-election victory, but his rival Flavio Bolsonaro refused to accept the loss and said he would seek to annul the vote.With Lula's victory, Brazil staved off a conservative wave that has seen numerous countries -- such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru -- all shift right, backed by US President Donald Trump.The leftist icon, who turns 81 on Tuesday, defied projections to win an unprecedented fourth term.According to official results, he won 51.8% of the votes to 48.2% for Flavio Bolsonaro, with Lula pulling around 4.4 million more votes.The senator is the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year jail term for attempting a coup after his loss to Lula in the country's last election in 2022.Sunday's vote was marked by confusion after a Supreme Court ruling extended voting by two hours as some polling stations had already closed.The move came at the request of Lula who complained that buses had been pulled from circulation in various cities, barring citizens from voting.Flavio Bolsonaro also requested an extension in some regions due to heavy rains, but he described the decision as "unacceptable" and a "dirty trick""It is impossible to recognize the results. I am going to request the annulment of these elections," he said, stone-faced, in a brief speech in Brasilia.No candidate who lost the first round has gone on to win the second in Brazil since 1989, the first direct election after the end of the country's military dictatorship."People went to vote because we managed to convince them that voting was very important for ensuring democracy in the country," Lula said in his first comments after the win.Fireworks and vuvuzelas rang out in Rio de Janeiro, while thousands of people dressed in red, the color of Lula's Workers' Party, streamed into the streets of Sao Paulo to celebrate.
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