Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged to govern for all Brazilians, bolster the country’s international standing and advance an ambitious climate agenda after securing reelection late Sunday.
“No one is required to like the president-elect, but he must govern for everyone,” Lula said as he addressed supporters, expressing gratitude to the Brazilian people and promising to respect citizens regardless of their political allegiances.
He also criticized his opponent Flavio Bolsonaro’s political camp, declaring “this was a defeat for denialism and lies.”
Promising an ambitious agenda for his next term, Lula said: “I want to make a commitment: I will deliver the best term any president has ever served. I will dedicate myself 24 hours a day to making this the country that everyone dreams of.”
Obrigado, povo brasileiro! 📸 @ricardostuckert https://t.co/OHkV0hThoQ
— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 26, 2026
He also emphasized national sovereignty, saying “in this election, we defeated the interference that was coming from the outside in.”
“This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard,” he added.
Outlining his vision for Brazil’s place in the world, Lula said the country should play a central role in international affairs and lead by example on climate policy.
“We want to be a central country, not a peripheral one. We are going to show the world how climate policies are handled in this country,” he said.
In a victory speech in Sao Paulo, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vowed to govern for all 215 million Brazilians after winning the runoff election against Flavio Bolsonaro to secure a historic fourth term in office https://t.co/7YJTjgnFAX https://t.co/GjusxbOD0y
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 26, 2026
Lula’s victory marked a historic comeback after he finished second in the Oct. 4 first round, when Bolsonaro led with 47.03% of valid votes against Lula’s 45.16%.
With 100% of the runoff’s votes counted, the 80-year-old leftist received 4.4m votes more than Bolsonaro, with a 51.79% share to his 45-year-old rival’s 48.21%. However, soon after Brazil’s electoral authority confirmed Lula’s victory, Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat and asked for the results to be annulled.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a historic fourth term, the country’s electoral court said, in a shock result that defied polls, precedent and global anti-incumbent sentiment https://t.co/7YJTjgnFAX https://t.co/BR7HSjSCRD
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 26, 2026
Lula became the first candidate in Brazil’s democratic history to finish second in the first round and win the presidency in the runoff, according to Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.
His campaign mobilized supporters through street rallies and social media.
The victory gives Lula a fourth, nonconsecutive presidential term following his wins in 2002, 2006 and 2022. He is the first Brazilian president elected to four terms by popular vote, according to the G1 news portal. His new term is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5, 2027.
The runoff recorded an abstention rate of 19.22%, down from 21.08% in the first round, according to reported figures from Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. Blank ballots accounted for approximately 1.12% of ballots cast and null ballots for 2.12%, bringing their combined share to 3.24%.
Lula’s next administration is expected to face congressional opposition and pressure to balance public finances while expanding social programs.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)