Lula Wins Brazil Runoff, Vows 'Democracy Always, Dictatorship Never Again'
Lula defeats Flávio Bolsonaro 51.79% to 48.21% in Brazil's runoff, vowing dictatorship will not return as world leaders congratulate him.
The story in focus
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro, 51.79% to 48.21%, The Guardian reported. In his victory speech in São Paulo, Lula vowed: "Democracy always, dictatorship never again." The Liberal party recognised the results; several world leaders congratulated him, while Donald Trump and Elon Musk questioned the outcome.
- Lula took 64.2m votes to Bolsonaro's 59.8m, a 51.79% to 48.21% margin
- He is the first first-round loser to win a Brazilian runoff since democracy returned
- The Liberal party recognised the result on Monday, nearly a day after the count
- Sheinbaum, Sánchez, Miliband, von der Leyen and China's foreign ministry congratulated or acknowledged Lula
- Bolsonaro rejected the result; Trump called it 'a terrible look'
A historic comeback
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro with 64.2m votes to 59.8m, or 51.79% to 48.21%, The Guardian reported. The result came after Lula lost the first round in early October — becoming the first first-round loser to win a Brazilian runoff since democracy returned after the 1964–85 military regime.
Addressing supporters in central São Paulo early on Monday, Lula said: "Democracy always, dictatorship never again. Democracy always, fascism never again." He called the day historic. The Guardian reported he drew at least 10m more votes than in the first round.
Recognition and dissent
Bolsonaro initially refused to concede, calling Lula's win a Portuguese term roughly translating as "bullshit." His Liberal party acknowledged the results on Monday, nearly a day after the count, with party head Valdemar Costa Neto saying the results were recognised but that issues raised needed clarification.
Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum, Spain's Pedro Sánchez, UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and China's foreign ministry were among those acknowledging the outcome. Trump said it "looked like another rigged election," adding he gets along with Lula; Elon Musk claimed the "math doesn't add up," The Guardian reported, noting low abstention explained the swing.
What follows
Health minister Alexandre Padilha told The Guardian the win was significant for the environment, health service, education and the constitution, and "an important signal to the rest of Latin America and to the world." Former environment minister Marina Silva said she was now certain Indigenous territories would be preserved.
Bolsonaro, a senator, faces federal police investigations including over suspected money laundering and maintains his innocence. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt.
Who recognised Lula's runoff victory, and who did not?
Brazil's Liberal party recognised the result a day after the count. Sheinbaum, Sánchez, Miliband, von der Leyen and China's foreign ministry acknowledged it. Trump questioned the tabulation; Musk said the math did not add up.
Sources & further reading
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