Brazil’s left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term in office after defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely fought presidential runoff.
The 80-year-old secured just under 52 per cent of the vote, overturning Bolsonaro’s first-round lead in a surprise victory that runs against a wider shift towards right-wing leadership across Latin America.
Addressing cheering supporters in São Paulo, Lula thanked voters for what he described as their defence of Brazilian democracy.
The victory follows a bitter election campaign between the veteran left-wing leader and Bolsonaro, whose father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a prison sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup after losing the previous presidential election.
Flávio Bolsonaro rejected the runoff result, describing it as “inexplicable” and calling for the election to be annulled.
His challenge follows an election in which he emerged ahead in the first round but failed to maintain his lead in the decisive runoff.
Lula’s victory gives him a fourth presidential term and extends his political career at a time when several countries across Latin America have moved towards right-wing governments.
The result also represents a significant defeat for the Bolsonaro political movement, which had sought to return to power through the former president’s son.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
