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Brazil chooses between BRICS and Trump ally in presidential runoff
Lula defeats Trump ally in Brazil’s presidential election: As it happened
His right-wing rival, Flavio Bolsonaro lost by 51.79% to 48.21% and has refused to concede, vowing to seek an annulment of the vote Published 25 Oct, 2026 21:49 | Updated 26 Oct, 2026 11:01Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrating with his supporters after being reelected Brazilian president. © Getty Images / Ricardo MoreiraLuiz Inacio Lula da Silva has received congratulations from Latin American nations and fellow BRICS members after winning reelection as Brazil’s president.
Lula prevailed over right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro and an ally of US President Donald Trump, in the second round of the vote on Sunday.
The 80-year-old veteran politician secured 51.79% of valid votes against Bolsonaro’s 48.21%, according to the completed count published by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), winning a historic fourth term by more than 4.4 million votes.
The victory means Latin America’s largest economy is set to maintain its prominent role in BRICS rather than shift closer to Washington under the Bolsonaro political dynasty. The defeated challenger had openly questioned Brazil’s membership in the bloc, accusing Lula of using it to antagonize the United States.
Addressing jubilant crowds in Sao Paulo, Lula thanked Brazilians for his reelection and singled out young people who had taken to the streets during the campaign.
READ MORE: Brazil election meddling: The stakes could not be higher“Today, my remarks are about gratitude,” he declared, pledging to give citizens a greater say in government decisions. “We are going to change the way this country is governed.”
However, Bolsonaro has refused to concede defeat and vowed to seek the annulment of the election, accusing the Supreme Court of improperly interfering in the vote.
“Brazil cannot accept this dirty trick,” he declared, denouncing the last-minute decision to extend voting hours nationwide by two hours as “unacceptable” and equivalent to “changing the rules of the game while the game was being played.”
READ MORE: Lula ally assaulted ahead of crucial Brazil election (VIDEO)The controversial ruling by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, Lula’s former personal lawyer, followed complaints from the incumbent’s campaign that public transport disruptions had prevented voters from reaching polling stations.
However, Bolsonaro did not mention that his own campaign had also requested extended voting hours in several cities affected by severe weather.
The decision came shortly after the original 5 PM deadline, when many polling stations had already closed and sealed their electronic voting machines. Senior judges have reportedly acknowledged procedural errors in handling the extension but ruled out annulling the election, according to Folha de S.Paulo.
Russia welcomes Lula’s victory in the Brazilian presidential election, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.
“He contributes a great deal not only to the development of bilateral relations, but also to the advancement of processes within BRICS and other organizations,” Peskov told journalists.
Moscow “hope[s] that all these processes will continue in the future,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent greetings to Lula, whom he called a “dear friend,” upon his being reelected as Brazil’s president.
“The results of the vote fully confirm that your fellow citizens recognize your outstanding leadership qualities and support the course you have pursued towards the country’s sustainable social and economic development, as well as the protection of its sovereignty and legitimate interests on the global stage,” Putin said in a message published on the Kremlin website.
The Russian leader also mentioned Lula’s upcoming 81st birthday and wished him “good health, happiness, prosperity, and continued success in your public service for the benefit of the friendly Brazilian people.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin accepting his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Kremlin in May 2025. © Sputnik / Mikhail MetzelBeijing has commented on the Brazilian election results, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun saying “we extend our congratulations” to Lula.
China “stands ready to work with Brazil to continue advancing the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future,” Guo stressed. The two nations are the founding members of the BRICS group, together with Russia and India.
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun answering questions from journalists. © Getty Images / Johannes NeudeckerDominican Republic President Luis Abinader has congratulated Lula on his reelection and praised Brazilians for their participation in the election.
“May we continue working together in this renewed four-year period for a more integrated and prosperous Latin America,” he wrote on X.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the younger brother of defeated Brazilian presidential contender Flavio Bolsonaro, has issued a video statement on X, saying that “we will never give up the fight.”
He claimed that Lula’s victory in the election was “statistically impossible” as never before in the country’s history has a candidate lost the runoff after winning in the first round.
The vote was “fraudulent,” Eduardo Bolsonaro insisted. “This is a message to you: do not recognize this election.”
WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT This is what happened in Brazil’s election - and this is just the beginning. Share this video👇 https://t.co/2c7oqWXlOZ
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is among the latest leaders to congratulate Lula, saying that Brazilians have “expressed their support for... strengthening national sovereignty, enhancing Brazil’s standing as a major global power.”
I congratulate you, President @LulaOficial, on your well-deserved victory in the presidential election. The Brazilian people have expressed their support for your policy of strengthening national sovereignty, enhancing Brazil’s standing as a major global power, advancing reform of the United Nations, and promoting a world order based on justice.
Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi has spoken with Lula following his reelection, describing the Brazilian leader as “a friend.”
“I congratulated him on his victory and on the celebration of democracy that an electoral process represents,” he wrote on X.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised Lula’s commitment to social justice and poverty reduction as he welcomed his reelection.
“I have always valued our friendship, and I share his conviction that the Global South must have a stronger voice in shaping a fairer international order,” he wrote on X.
Anwar added that Malaysia would seek closer cooperation with Brazil on trade and investment, as well as stronger links between ASEAN and Latin America.
I extend warmest congratulations to @LulaOficial on your re-election as President of the Federative Republic of Brazil for a historic fourth term. Your historic reelection will allow you and your party to build on the progress achieved over the previous term and to pursue a future of greater opportunity for all Brazilians. Guyana and Brazil enjoy strong and enduring bonds of friendship, mutul respect and cooperation. I look forward to continuing our close collaboration to strengthen bilateral relations, deepen regional integration, expand trade and investment, and advance our shared commitment to sustainable development and regional prosperity. I congratulate President @LulaOficial and the people of Brazil on this important democratic milestone and extend my best wishes for continued peace, progress and prosperity.
Brazilian President Lula gave his wife a passionate kiss while celebrating his election win on stage. The 80-year-old veteran politician said he did so to signal that “this victory is not a victory for men alone. It is a victory for men and women.”
Brazilian President Lula: This victory is not a victory for men alone. It is a victory for men and women. To show that women are a vital part of this victory, I invite Alckmin to join me in kissing our wives. Kissing is perhaps the most beautiful expression between people who love each other. So I want to tell you: I love you.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has congratulated Lula on his reelection, highlighting shared commitments to “defending democracy, protecting our environment, strengthening workers’ rights, and building an economy that works for working families.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also welcomed the result, declaring that “the people united will never be defeated!”
The people united will never be defeated! Congratulations, President Lula.
The last major opinion polls released before Brazil’s presidential runoff showed Flavio Bolsonaro holding a narrow advantage over incumbent Lula da Silva.
An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg survey published Saturday put Bolsonaro at 50.8% of valid voting intentions against Lula’s 49.2%. The poll surveyed 4,990 voters between October 18 and 23, with a margin of error of one percentage point.
A separate Quaest survey put Bolsonaro at 51% and Lula at 49%, also indicating a tight contest.
Both surveys were conducted before election day and do not represent exit polls or actual votes cast.
🇧🇷 BRAZIL 2026 — NEW FINAL POLL AtlasIntel/Bloomberg: Flávio Bolsonaro 50.8% Lula 49.2% 📊 4,990 voters | ±1 pp 📅 Fieldwork: Oct 18–23 Another tight result ahead of Sunday's presidential runoff. Full polling tracker: https://t.co/OAeE07EWBx https://t.co/QK5Js9qSjY
Incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken an early lead over right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential runoff, according to the first figures published by the country’s electoral authorities.
Lula received 57.66% of valid votes against Bolsonaro’s 42.34%, with just 0.25% of polling stations counted as of 5:06pm Brasília time.
The extremely limited count does not provide a reliable indication of the eventual outcome, particularly as the nationwide extension of voting hours has disrupted the normal release of results.
Counting was paused after the Supreme Court extended voting hours by two hours, with 335,743 votes tallied before the suspension. The decision followed reports that public transport disruptions had prevented some voters from reaching polling stations.
The extension applies only to polling stations where electronic voting machines have not yet been sealed, Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin has clarified, according to Brazilian news outlet UOL.
However, some stations had already sealed their machines before receiving the order, leaving late arrivals unable to cast their ballots.
Lula leads with 50.5% against Flavio Bolsonaro’s 49.5%, with 10.4% of polling stations counted.
Prominent right-wing businessman and Flavio Bolsonaro ally Pablo Marçal has accused Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) of attempting to manipulate the presidential election narrative after a Supreme Court judge controversially extended voting hours nationwide.
READ MORE: Brazil election meddling: The stakes could not be higherSpeaking outside Bolsonaro’s election-night headquarters, Marçal denounced the decision by Justice Cristiano Zanin, Lula’s former personal lawyer, as an “absurdity” that had thrown the vote count into confusion.
“The decision arrives at 5:04pm, without notification to the Superior Electoral Court or any state electoral court. The voting machines were already closed, and there is no way to reopen them,” he told reporters.
Marçal argued that Bolsonaro’s campaign had requested an extension in only 17 cities affected by severe weather, questioning why the ruling applied to thousands of municipalities nationwide.
Brazil’s electoral authorities subsequently clarified that the extension applied only to polling stations where electronic voting machines had not already been shut down.
Flavio Bolsonaro has overtaken Lula in Brazil’s presidential runoff, receiving 50.24% of votes against the incumbent’s 49.76%, with 17% of polling stations reporting.
Unverified reports circulating on social media allege that Bolsonaro supporters set fire to buses to prevent people from voting. These allegations have not been independently verified.
🇧🇷 URGENTE: A esta hora denuncian que bolsonaristas están QUEMANDO AUTOBUSES en Rio de Janeiro para impedir que las personas lleguen a los locales de votación. Tensa situación ahora en Brasil. https://t.co/1xAq95xX0O
Separately, at least 75 buses were reportedly blocked from leaving their garages in Salvador, prompting an electoral judge to order the arrest of municipal transport secretary Pablo Souza, according to AP.
🚨🇧🇷 ¡ESCÁNDALO EN BRASIL! BOLSONARISTAS INCENDIAN AUTOBUSES PARA IMPEDIR QUE LA GENTE VOTE: GRAVÍSIMO ATAQUE A LA DEMOCRACIA El balotaje brasileño quedó envuelto en un escándalo monumental. La campaña de Lula denunció maniobras para obstaculizar el traslado de votantes mediante la reducción del transporte público en distintos estados. En Salvador, la Justicia Electoral llegó a ordenar la detención del secretario de Movilidad. Desde el entorno de Lula apuntan contra intendentes aliados del bolsonarismo y denuncian un intento de interferir en las elecciones. ¡El derecho a votar no se negocia! Impedir que los ciudadanos lleguen a las urnas sería un atropello intolerable contra la democracia.
A group of people have moved a car blocking a road in Brazil, according to a video circulating online. Unverified reports claim that Bolsonaro supporters had placed the vehicle there to prevent people from voting.
😭 HISTÓRICO LO QUE ESTÁ HACIENDO EL PUEBLO BRASILEÑO: cargan un auto que los bolsonaristas atravesaron en las carreteras para trancar la carretera y obstruir el paso de autobuses. https://t.co/3pWUTf6FAt
With 37% of the vote counted, Flavio Bolsonaro maintains a narrow lead over Lula, securing 50.32% of the vote against the incumbent’s 49.68%.
Brazil’s Federal Police are investigating whether public transport disruptions during the presidential runoff involved criminal offenses, Federal Police investigations director Dennis Cali said.
The probe covers Bahia, Sao Paulo, Piaui, Sergipe, and Alagoas, although a formal inquiry has so far been opened only in Sergipe. Investigators are interviewing people involved in organizing and providing transport services.
The disruptions were among the reasons that prompted the Supreme Court to extend voting hours by two hours.
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