Lula: My victory is a defeat of lies and denialism

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured his fourth non-consecutive term as president of Brazil on Sunday night, defeating right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a historic reversal. According to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, Lula captured 51.78 percent of valid votes, while Bolsonaro received 48.22 percent. The result stands as the closest presidential contest in the country’s history, with final polls indicating a near tie before the last counts came in. This victory marks a unprecedented feat in modern Brazilian democracy, making Lula the first candidate to lose the initial round of elections yet still claim the presidency in the runoff. The election took place under unusual circumstances that have already sparked legal disputes. Heavy rainfall and technical disruptions affected voting logistics across the nation. Consequently, the country’s Supreme Court ordered polling stations to remain open for two additional hours beyond the standard 5 p.m. local time closure. Both campaigns cited severe weather and transportation breakdowns as reasons for the delay, though the decision originated from a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin. Despite the narrow margin of victory, which amounted to approximately 4.4 million more votes for Lula, Bolsonaro immediately rejected the outcome. He announced plans to mobilize his legal team to petition for the annulment of the election, arguing that the arbitrary change to voting rules favored his opponent. Lula, 80 years old, addressed supporters from a hotel in São Paulo accompanied by his wife, Janja da Silva, and re-elected vice-president Geraldo Alckmin. Speaking through a megaphone to crowds on Paulista Avenue, the progressive leader declared his triumph a defeat for lies and denialism. He characterized his campaign as a defense of democratic institutions against threats posed by his adversary. Lula accused Flávio Bolsonaro of lying with brazenness and lacking basic humanity, describing his rival as appearing entirely false after two tense televised debates held in the preceding week. The path to this victory was fraught with obstacles. In the first round held on October 4, Lula finished second behind Bolsonaro, a result that defied expectations and signaled a potential shift toward right-wing governance in Latin America. For weeks, analysts viewed Lula’s chances as slim, noting voter fatigue stemming from previous corruption scandals involving his party and rising inflation. However, the incumbent managed to reduce abstention rates significantly compared to the first round. Of the 158.7 million registered voters, roughly 30.5 million did not cast ballots, a decrease of two percentage points from the earlier vote. Approximately three million individuals who stayed home in the first round returned to the polls for the second, a factor Lula credited as pivotal to his comeback. Lula emphasized the role of social media in his campaign strategy, acknowledging that digital communication played a crucial part in his resurgence. Looking ahead to his new mandate, which begins on January 5, 2027, he outlined key policy priorities. These include protecting religious freedom, combating gender-based violence, sustaining investments in education and healthcare, and continuing efforts to curb deforestation. He also pledged to work with legislators to advance government projects, despite the strengthening presence of right-wing parties in Congress. On the international stage, Lula stated that Brazil does not accept being treated as anyone’s backyard, referencing pressures from the United States, and expressed a desire for the nation to hold a central rather than peripheral position in global discussions. The defeated candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, sought to capitalize on the procedural irregularities surrounding the vote extension. He criticized the Supreme Court for altering the rules of the game, alleging that the decision was made by allies of Lula. Reports indicate that the request for the extension was influenced by complaints regarding public transport limitations in major cities, including São Paulo, which is led by a right-wing mayor. While Lula celebrated the turnout among young people who took to the streets to defend democracy, as well as older voters who participated, Bolsonaro maintained that the integrity of the process was compromised. Lula also directed criticism at technology platforms, accusing them of interfering in the electoral process by limiting the reach of his campaign posts. He argued that digital crimes must be treated with the same severity as offenses in physical reality and insisted that such companies require regulation. He further noted that these corporations generate substantial profits without contributing adequate taxes to the country. Despite the contentious nature of the result, Lula asserted that his responsibility extends to all citizens, including those who voted against him. The coming days will likely see intense legal maneuvering as Bolsonaro’s team pursues judicial remedies, while Lula prepares to assume office in January amidst ongoing questions about the stability of the electoral process.