Brazil

Brasília, October 26, 2026. The Brazilian press is framing the result of Sunday, October 25, as a "virada": Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been reelected for a fourth term, a first, with 51.79% of valid votes (64,256,232 votes) against 48.21% (59,826,041) for Flávio Bolsonaro, a difference of 4.4 million votes, according to the Estadão. For the first time, the newspaper notes, a candidate who came in second in the first round has won in the second. At 80 years old, Lula will be the oldest president to take office; he will be 81 years old on Tuesday, October 27.

The election was tumultuous. Minister of the Supreme Court Cristiano Zanin extended voting until 7:00 PM after public transportation restrictions in Salvador, São Paulo, and eight other states. The Folha reports that Rogério Marinho, coordinator of Flávio's campaign, sees this as a "judicial coup" and denounces "the level of intervention of certain STF ministers"; the newspaper notes that allies are suggesting fraud without evidence. Flávio Bolsonaro announced that he would request the annulment of the election, and the G1 recalls that he will lose his mandate and privileged status in 2027.

The Estadão and the Folha attribute the comeback to the mobilization of militants, the breakthrough in Minas Gerais (50.43% against 49.57%), and what editorialist Ricardo Corrêa calls Flávio's "soberba". The polls had almost all given Flávio the lead in absolute numbers, at 51% against 49% for Datafolha, Quaest, and PoderData, Veja notes: the outcome has disproven them.

The focus is now turning to the challenges of the fourth term. The Estadão cites a Congress where the opposition is strengthening, pressure to impeach STF judges, and investigations targeting the presidential entourage, including Lula's son Lulinha and lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger, who mentions a denunciation. Economically, the gross debt has risen from 71.68% of GDP at the end of 2022 to 82.87% in August 2026; the newspaper judges that Lula will have to act to contain it, while his campaign has multiplied spending promises. The markets, which were betting on Flávio, are expected to plummet: an analyst mentions an Ibovespa below 190,000 points.

Abroad, the right-wing presidents of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Panama have congratulated Lula before the official proclamation; Javier Milei has remained silent, and Donald Trump has said nothing.