Trump critic Lula wins reelection in Brazil, securing fourth presidential term
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, was reelected Sunday in a result that provides relief to critics of Trump and keeps some distance between Latin America’s biggest economy and Washington.With 100% of the vote counted, Brazil’s electoral court announced that the soon to be 81-year-old Lula held an unassailable lead.The announcement capped an evening of chaos at polling places across Brazil, following a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours.
That decision by a Supreme Court justice may trigger legal action by opponent Flávio Bolsonaro.His triumph bucks a trend in Latin America where increasing numbers of right-of-center presidental candidates allied with Trump have been winning, further extending the United States’ influence in the region.Lula’s victory leaves Mexico and Brazil, Latin America’s two most populous nations, with left-of-center leaders.
It also positions Latin America’s largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion per year, to remain independent of the US, despite the pressure of increased tariffs imposed by Trump.The announcement kicked off a celebration of supporters in and out the Sao Paulo hotel where Lula watched the count with First Lady Rosângela da Silva, allies, and friends.Lula’s victory, if confirmed by electoral authorities, will give him his non-consecutive fourth term as president.The next term begins on Jan.
5, 2027.It is 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%, a difference of 2.2 million votes.Lula and Sen.
Bolsonaro have yet to address their supporters.Sunday’s victory will likely be the last of the veteran leader’s political career.Lula began his political career in the 1970s as a union leader.
He then helped found the Workers’ Party, which he re...