Lula secures victory in Brazil's election, but faces challenge as Bolsonaro contests results

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has secured a fourth nonconsecutive term, defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a run-off. Bolsonaro, however, has called for Sunday’s vote to be annulled over an “unacceptable” two-hour voting extension granted by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, despite both candidates having requested additional voting time. The election results have drawn reactions across the world, with left-wing global figures celebrating Lula’s victory.

Here’s how the world reacted: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Sheinbaum congratulated Lula in a post on X. “Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won,” she wrote. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney In his congratulatory post, Carney credited Lula with advancing relations between Canada and Brazil.

“Let us seize this opportunity to strengthen them further, together – to create new promising commercial prospects, protect the environment, and ensure greater prosperity for both our populations,” he wrote on X. US officials and politicians US President Donald Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr criticised the result, referring to the two-hour voting time extension. “If a conservative government in Brazil did this, everyone in the mainstream press in America would lose their minds, but I guess they’re just choosing to be silent because it’s all for the cause,” he said.

Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, congratulated Lula’s “extraordinary re-election victory”, saying the Brazilian president has “stood up” for workers and democracy and will continue to do so for the next four years. Congressman Ro Khanna said in a post on X: “People all across the world are fighting back against extremism. With Lula in Brazil, they just won.

Authoritarian leaders always attack democracy because they stand no chance against the will of their people.” Khanna added that Trump “must respect the results and not undermine Brazil’s elections”. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X: “The people united will never be defeated!” California Governor Gavin Newsom’s media office released a statement, saying he is “proud to stand with Brazil and partners around the world who share our commitment to defending democracy, protecting our environment, strengthening workers’ rights, and building an economy that works for working families”. Chinese Foreign Ministry China congratulated Lula through…

Leftwing incumbent becomes first candidate to reverse first-round defeat, but far-right son of former president rejects result. Plus, interviews with two legendary songwritersGood morning. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has staged a dramatic election fightback, defeating his far-right opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, to claim a historic fourth term as Brazil’s president.