Brazil: Lula wins a fourth term, Bolsonaro wants the election annulled

Brazilian left-wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was re-elected on Sunday, unexpectedly securing an unprecedented fourth term, but his conservative rival Flavio Bolsonaro announced his intention to have the election annulled.

Brazil has not ultimately shifted to the right like Argentina, Chile, or Colombia, all of which are supported by US President Donald Trump. It remains one of the few progressive strongholds in Latin America.

"Democracy and multilateralism have won in Brazil," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said of the victory of her "friend" Lula, and French President Emmanuel Macron called for "the friendship between our two countries to live on in the service of a fairer world" in the face of the "great challenges of our time."

For the Spanish Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, this "great victory" marks the beginning of "the comeback of global progressivism".

Lula was warmly congratulated by the left-wing governments in Latin America (Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum, Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel, and the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The right-wing presidents (Chile, Peru, Ecuador) pledged to continue working toward common goals with the regional giant.

Beijing said it was ready to "continue" working with Brazil, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the "remarkable" victory of his "dear friend", with whom he intends to continue "advancing common Southern priorities".

In the United States, Donald Trump, who had hailed Flavio Bolsonaro's "great victory" after the first round, had not reacted.

With 51.8% of the vote compared to 48.2% for Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the veteran, who will turn 81 on Tuesday, defied all predictions. And he garnered 4.4 million more votes than his opponent.

He was overtaken in the first round by the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), who was convicted of attempting a coup.

"Brazilians went to vote because we managed to convince them that voting was very important to guarantee democracy," Lula said from the megacity of Sao Paulo.

- "Scheming" -

For his fourth term, Lula's room for maneuver appears limited after the conservative landslide in the legislative elections three weeks ago.

The campaign highlighted how divided the country remains, and a legal dispute even disrupted election day. Following a Supreme Court judge's decision, voting was extended by two hours.

Lula's team had filed a complaint denouncing the fact that voters had been prevented from voting because buses had been taken out of service in some cities, particularly in his stronghold in the Northeast.

"It is impossible to recognize the elections," declared Flavio Bolsonaro, his face grim, after the results were announced. From Brasilia, he denounced a "rigged" election.

His camp had also called for an extension of voting in two regions, due to "heavy rains".

His father had also refused to acknowledge his defeat to Lula in 2022. He is serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest for attempting to cling to power after his failed re-election.

This is the first time a candidate has managed to turn the tide in the second round since the end of the military dictatorship (1964-1985).

When the result was announced, a crowd of supporters erupted in joy, particularly on the iconic Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, where the winner was cheered by thousands of people.

"I am very moved. This is a historic victory for President Lula. The people mobilized, they united," Mariana Andrade, a 33-year-old lawyer in Rio de Janeiro, told AFP.

From a personal perspective, the re-election of the left-wing icon crowns an extraordinary career. And it's a final act of defiance against fate for the former poor kid from Pernambuco (northeast).

He already held a record: no democratically elected president had led Brazil for so long.

One of the world's oldest leaders will be 85 years old at the end of his last term in 2030. He will have thus completed 16 years in power, after a first stint as president from 2003 to 2010.

Lula has overcome the wear and tear of time and a very strong weariness towards his Workers' Party (PT).

The PT remains associated by many with the scandals that damaged it in the 2000s.

Its leader himself suffered the disgrace of a corruption conviction that landed him in prison in 2018-2019, before it was overturned on procedural grounds.

During his campaign, the old lion brandished the banner of sovereignty, in the face of commercial and diplomatic pressure from the United States.