Key facts
- Lula da Silva was reelected president of Brazil on Sunday.
- Lula da Silva secured his fourth term as president.
- The next term begins on Jan. 5, 2027.
- Flavio Bolsonaro may trigger legal action over extended voting hours.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was reelected Sunday, extending his political career and keeping Latin America's largest economy at a distance from Washington. The electoral court announced Lula held an unassailable lead with 100% of the vote counted, capping an evening of polling place chaos. A Supreme Court justice's last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours may trigger legal action by opponent Flavio Bolsonaro. Lula's victory bucks a trend of right-of-center candidates allied with U.S. President Donald Trump winning in Latin America. His win leaves Mexico and Brazil with left-of-center leaders and positions Brazil to remain independent of the U.S. despite increased tariffs. Lula's triumph marks the first time since Brazil's military dictatorship ended in 1985 that the second-highest vote getter in the first-round elections won the presidency. Bolsonaro had 47% of the vote in the first round to Lula's 45%.