Lula da Silva Wins Fourth Term as Brazil’s President

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential runoff on 25 October 2026, securing about 51.8% of the vote against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s roughly 48.2%. Lula, aged 80, is set to begin his fourth presidential term on 5 January 2027.

Brazil’s Presidential Election System

Brazil is a federal presidential republic. The president is elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term and may seek one consecutive re-election. Under the two-round system, a runoff is held if no candidate receives more than half of the valid votes in the first round.

The first round of the 2026 election took place on 4 October. Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03% of the vote, while Lula received 45.16%; Bolsonaro led by more than 2.2 million votes. Lula won the subsequent runoff, the first time since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985 that a candidate who trailed in the first round went on to win the second.

Lula’s Presidential Terms

Lula first served as president from 2003 to 2010, after winning elections in 2002 and 2006. He returned to office after winning the 2022 election, making the 2026 victory his fourth presidential term overall and his second non-consecutive return to the presidency.

Flávio Bolsonaro is a senator and the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for involvement in an attempted coup following his 2022 election defeat. Flávio Bolsonaro rejected the result and sought its annulment after voting hours were extended nationally.

Voting Hours and Electoral Administration

Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting hours by two hours, until 7 p.m. local time, after complaints that public-transport problems were preventing voters from reaching polling stations. The extension took place after vote counting had begun, and counting was paused while voting continued.

Important Facts for Exams

• Brazil’s current federal Constitution was promulgated in 1988.
• Brazil’s capital is Brasília, and the country is divided into 26 states and one Federal District.
• The Brazilian real is the country’s official currency.
• Brazil is a member of the BRICS grouping and the Southern Common Market, known as Mercosur.

Term Commencement

Lula’s fourth presidential term is scheduled to begin on 5 January 2027. Brazil’s presidential term lasts four years under the country’s constitutional system.