Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has secured another term in office after defeating his main rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, in a closely contested presidential run-off held on Sunday.
Official results released by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court showed that Lula garnered 51.79 per cent of the votes, defeating Bolsonaro, who received 48.21 per cent.
Reacting to his victory, Lula described the outcome as a rejection of falsehoods and political denialism, while reaffirming his commitment to Brazil’s sovereignty.
“This was a defeat for denialism and lies. I must confess that every time I attended a debate, I felt embarrassed. Either the homeland remains free, or we die for Brazil. This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard,” he said.
However, Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, disputed the election outcome, questioning the credibility of the process.
“It’s impossible to recognise the results of the election in the context of these things that happened,” he said.
Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence following his conviction over an attempt to overturn the outcome of the 2022 presidential election.
Lula’s latest victory marks another milestone in his political career, having previously won Brazil’s presidential elections in 2002, 2006 and 2022.
Sunday’s contest followed the first round of voting on October 5, when no candidate secured the majority required to win the presidency outright, making a run-off necessary.
During the initial round, Flávio Bolsonaro, a right-wing politician, finished ahead with 47.03 per cent of the votes, while Lula recorded 45.16 per cent.
The run-off ultimately gave Lula the lead, allowing him to overcome his challenger and secure another presidential term.
