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# Lula wins Brazil presidential run-off, securing fourth term
- URL: https://www.brownytimes.com/lula-leads-brazil-presidential-runoff-2026/
- Published: 2026-10-26T00:10:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-26T00:36:35.000Z
- Description: SPECIAL REPORT — Lula defeats Flávio Bolsonaro to secure a fourth presidential term in Brazil.
- Author: Browny Times
- Tags: World, BRAZIL, ELECTIONS

*The Brazilian president defeated Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely contested election, overturning a first-round deficit to become the first person elected to Brazil's presidency four times.*

**SPECIAL REPORT —** President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential run-off on Sunday, defeating Senator Flávio Bolsonaro after a closely contested count in which the lead changed hands.

Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) declared Lula mathematically elected on Sunday night, with most polling stations already counted. The victory makes him the first person elected president of Brazil four times, after his wins in 2002, 2006 and 2022.

With more than 98 per cent of polling stations counted, Lula had about 51.75 per cent of valid votes against Flávio Bolsonaro's 48.25 per cent, a margin of more than 4.2 million votes. The figures were provisional pending completion of the count.

Official results are available through the [TSE's results portal](https://resultados.tse.jus.br/oficial/app/index.html?ref=brownytimes.com).

## A reversal from the first round

Lula led the first returns on Sunday evening before Flávio Bolsonaro moved ahead. The senator held a narrow advantage with about 42 per cent of polling stations counted, before Lula regained the lead and extended it as the count neared completion.

The result reversed the order of the October 4 first round, when Flávio Bolsonaro finished first with 47.03 per cent of valid votes against Lula's 45.16 per cent.

Since direct presidential elections resumed in 1989, every run-off had previously been won by the candidate who finished first in the opening round.

## Voting hours extended

Voting closed two hours later than scheduled after Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered polling stations across the country to continue receiving votes until 7 p.m. Brasília time (6 p.m. in Guyana).

The order followed a petition by Lula's coalition citing a shortage of public buses for voters in three municipalities in the state of Bahia. Zanin extended the measure nationwide and later said both campaigns had raised transport problems. The release of election results was delayed until voting ended.

## A fourth term for Lula

Lula, of the Workers' Party (PT), campaigned on social programmes, support for household incomes and national sovereignty. Flávio Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Party (PL), made tougher action against organised crime the centre of his campaign, alongside a conservative agenda. He is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, whom Lula defeated in 2022.

Lula served two terms from 2003 to 2011 and returned to office in January 2023\. His new term begins on January 5, 2027.

## What Lula's victory means for Guyana

Lula's re-election means Guyana will continue working with a Brazilian administration already familiar with the bilateral relationship, as the two countries pursue closer infrastructure and border cooperation.

Shared initiatives include the Linden–Lethem road, intended to improve overland connectivity between Guyana and northern Brazil, and efforts agreed between the Government of Guyana and the state of Roraima to improve customs and immigration procedures at the Lethem–Bonfim crossing.

The pace and scope of that cooperation will depend on decisions taken by both governments during Lula's new term.

*This article has been updated to reflect the result of Brazil's presidential run-off.*