Lula wins Brazil runoff with 51.79% as Flávio Bolsonaro rejects the result

A comeback in the count

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff on 25 October with 51.79% of valid votes, against 48.21% for Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Flávio Bolsonaro had finished first in the first round on 4 October, when Lula trailed by 2.2 million votes. The final margin was 4,430,191 votes, with 64.2 million for Lula and 59.8 million for Flávio Bolsonaro. Earlier figures, at 99.89% of the count, gave Lula 51.77% and turnout of about 80.8%, and the later total is 51.79%. It is the first time since the return of democracy that a candidate has reversed a first-round deficit to win the presidency.

How the count turned

Lula led at the start of the count, but Flávio Bolsonaro moved ahead once about 20% of the vote had been counted. The two candidates were level at around 47%, and from there Lula pulled away until he neared 52%. Pre-election forecasts and financial markets had favoured Flávio Bolsonaro, whose platform included tax cuts for the rich and cuts to welfare spending for the poor.

Lula da Silva64.2

Flávio Bolsonaro59.8

Lula da Silva

64.2 million votes

Flávio Bolsonaro

59.8 million votes

Data from the article text

A disputed result and extended voting

Flávio Bolsonaro has already rejected the official results and says it is 'impossible' to recognise them, with a challenge to follow. Donald Trump has also raised doubts about the process. A court order kept part of the polling stations open for two hours beyond their scheduled close, because voters had struggled to reach them. Jair Bolsonaro, the father of the defeated candidate, was convicted over an attempted coup, according to LaSexta.

Lula's priorities and the rally

On the night of 25 October Lula spoke at a victory rally in Rio de Janeiro, handing the microphone to vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, a centrist with strong ties to the business community, before taking it back to thank supporters. He thanked young people, women and older voters for their mobilisation, and he described the result as a defeat for denialism and lies. His priorities for the new term are regulating digital platforms, technology education, protecting public health care and a more active federal role in public security. André Janones, a 42-year-old lawyer and federal deputy, led the social media campaign that changed Lula's strategy between the two rounds.

European and Spanish reactions

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Lula in a social media post and said democracy and multilateralism had won in Brazil. European Council president António Costa said the Brazilian people had spoken and confirmed a phone call with Lula. In Madrid, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X:

“Great victory for Lula! What has happened in Brazil will happen in Spain.”

Sánchez added that the progressive comeback has just begun. Foreign minister José Manuel Albares called the result a brilliant and democratic victory and said:

“We are going to continue working with that strategic partner, so important for Spain.”

Podemos secretary general Ione Belarra congratulated the people of Brazil, and Emilio Delgado, Frente Amplio's top candidate for the Community of Madrid in the 29 November vote, predicted Spain would follow.

A wider pattern in Latin America and Europe

On the same day, candidates backed by student protesters defeated former president Aleksandar Vucic in Serbia's parliamentary election. Vucic had resigned as president to seek the prime minister post, and he conceded defeat. The Irish Times links the Brazilian and Serbian results, arguing that Lula's win has halted the right-wing advance across Latin America. Spain's progressive parties now point to their own vote on 29 November as the next test of the same momentum.