Brazilian leftist President Lula wins reelection against conservative challenger Flavio Bolsonaro

October 26, 2026

EU's von der Leyen hails Lula's win

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has posted an online message of congratulation to "my friend" Lula on his win in Brazil's election runoff. 

"Democracy and multilateralism have won in Brazil," she wrote.

"Europe's partnership with Brazil is thriving. We will remain by your side for the years to come," her post continued. 

"Together we will keep working closely for free and open trade. A rules-based global order. And strong ambitions for our climate."

October 26, 2026

Could Bolsonaro succeed in annulling the vote?

Some uncertainty still surrounds the final result of Brazil's election, as Flavio Bolsonaro has vowed to challenge the outcome over the two-hour extension of polling hours ordered by a Supreme Court judge at the request of Lula da Silva's campaign.

However, legal experts have expressed doubt as to whether such a complaint would meet the legal threshold for the election to be annulled.

Bolsonaro's case would be weakened by at least two factors, analysts said. Firstly, the scale of his loss to Lula and second, the fact that his campaign had also requested an extension in some states.

The president of the electoral court, Kassio Nunes Marques, said that the extension of voting hours had not influenced the vote.

The Associated Press cited Joao Pedro Padua, a law professor at Brazil's Fluminense Federal University, as saying that Bolsonaro could ask for the elections to be declared null and void by filing a complaint with electoral authorities or the Supreme Court.

"But there isn't much legal basis for that," Padua said.

"The extension of voting hours is unusual, but for it to invalidate the elections, the candidate would have to prove that it affected voters' ability to freely express their will. There doesn't seem to have been any such impact," he said.

Shortly before scheduled voting ended, Supreme Court Judge Christiano had ordered polling stations to remain open for longer after problems with public transport were reported to be affecting voters.

The decision followed a request from Lula's campaign.

Bolsonaro's campaign had also called for an extension of voting hours but only in some conservative-leaning southern states hit by heavy rainfall, flooding and power outages that were said to be disrupting voting.

Published October 25, 2026last updated October 26, 2026

Votes tallied in Brazil's presidential election after polls close

Here's a DW infographic on where the results stand:

October 26, 2026

Flavio Bolsonaro rejects defeat, seeks annulment of Brazil election

Right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has rejected his defeat to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil’s presidential run-off, calling for the election to be annulled over a two-hour extension of voting hours.

Speaking to reporters after the electoral court declared Lula the winner, Bolsonaro said he could not accept the result. He criticized a decision by Supreme Court judge Cristiano Zanin to extend voting hours nationwide, arguing that it had changed the rules of the election.

"What happened today was not normal. It was unacceptable," Bolsonaro said, arguing that the nationwide extension had undermined equal treatment between states. He said he would take legal action against the result.

Lula’s campaign had requested the extension, citing difficulties transporting voters to polling stations in several states. Bolsonaro’s campaign had also sought extra voting time, but only in municipalities across five states, citing heavy rain, flooding and power outages.

October 26, 2026

Lula says Brazilians voted to defend democracy, vows to resist US influence

Brazilians voted to "guarantee democracy," President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Sunday after beating Flavio Bolsonaro to win an unprecedented fourth term.

In a post on X, Lula thanked Brazilians, particularly young people who took to the streets in defense of democracy, saying: "This victory belongs to a people who believe, who fight, and who never give up on building a more just, sovereign, and democratic Brazil."

In his victory speech, Lula reiterated that Brazil would "not accept being anyone’s backyard," a recurring campaign message defending the country’s sovereignty against US influence. The stance may have helped him win votes, with some voters viewing Washington’s actions as interference.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2025, when the US imposed tariffs on Brazil in retaliation for legal proceedings against former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was later convicted of coup-plotting.

Speaking in a hoarse voice, Lula thanked his campaign team and Brazilians, particularly young people who took to the streets to defend democracy. He described the result as a "loss for negativity, lies."

The re-elected president also promised better regulation of big tech platforms, after Meta was the subject of legal complaints over alleged "interference" throughout the polarizing campaign.

October 26, 2026

Latin American leaders congratulate Lula on election victory

Several Latin American leaders congratulated leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his victory.

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast said he had spoken to Lula and congratulated him, adding that "Chile and Brazil have a lot of shared future ahead."

Mexico’s left-wing President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated Lula on his victory, writing on X: "Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won. Congratulations, President Lula!"

The presidents of Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama and Bolivia also congratulated Lula in posts on X.

Cuba’s president congratulated Lula on X, calling him "dear brother" and praising his victory as a win for peace, sovereignty and social justice.

Published October 26, 2026last updated October 26, 2026

IN PICTURES: Lula supporters celebrate, while Bolsonaro's fans disappointed

Published October 26, 2026last updated October 26, 2026

Brazil's Lula defeats conservative Flavio Bolsonaro in presidential election

Brazil's leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has won a fourth term in office, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff, according to the country's electoral court. 

Lula overcame his first-round defeat to Bolsonaro to secure victory in the runoff. The nearly 81-year-old leader won 51.7% of the vote, compared with 48.2% for Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Sunday's second round vote was thrown into confusion after a last-minute Supreme Court ruling extended voting by two hours, following Lula's claim that buses had been taken off the roads in several cities, preventing some voters from reaching polling stations.

Pollsters said higher-than-expected turnout appeared to have benefited Lula. Conservative candidates in Brazil typically lead early in the count, while left-wing candidates gain ground as votes from poorer, more populous northeastern states come in.

Lula will have to manage relations with Washington as the Trump administration in the US increasingly asserts its influence across Latin America. Trump is a close political ally of the Bolsonaro family, and Flavio Bolsonaro had campaigned on a promise of closer cooperation with Washington.

Around 159 million Brazilians were eligible to vote. Under Lula’s left-wing Workers’ Party, unemployment fell to a record low, poverty declined, the minimum wage rose and deforestation in the Amazon decreased. Congress also approved the gradual introduction of a five-day working week with two days off.

However, rising living costs, high public debt, Lula’s spending policies and a scandal involving alleged pension fraud weighed on his government. The economic challenges left many voters dissatisfied with his record and open to a return of the Bolsonaro family to power.

The campaign season was also marred by scandals and mudslinging.

Lula finished the first round with 45% of the vote, two percentage points behind Flavio Bolsonaro. He became the first candidate since Brazil restored direct presidential elections in 1989 to overcome a first-round deficit and win the runoff.

The former trade unionist, who served as president from 2003 to 2010 before returning to office in 2023, now faces a challenging fourth term with a strong right-wing opposition.

Lula will have to manage relations with Washington as the Trump administration in the US increasingly asserts its influence across Latin America. US President Donald Trump is a close political ally of the Bolsonaro family, and Flavio Bolsonaro had campaigned on a promise of closer cooperation with Washington.

October 25, 2026

Voting extended after complaints by both sides

Brazil's Supreme Court has moved to extend voting time in the presidential election until 7 p.m. local time (2200 GMT), giving voters an additional two hours.

The decision comes amid complaints from Lula's team that public bus services had been hampered, blocking people from getting to polling stations.

At the same time, Bolsonaro's team complained of weather conditions in certain regions making it more difficult for people to get out and vote.

October 25, 2026

Lula asks for polls to stay open longer after people 'barred from voting'

President Lula has requested an extension to poll opening hours after buses were taken out of circulation in Sao Paolo, the country's largest city, which he said prevented many people from voting.

"We are asking the Supreme Court to extend the electoral process so that those who were effectively barred from voting, due to the dirty tactics of mayors, can still cast their votes," Lula said, according to AFP.

Lula said 40% of buses in the city had been prevented from going into service, a claim that matched local media reports saying 75 buses had been blocked from leaving garages.

"I've never complained about anything in any election before. Whether I won or lost, I'd just accept it and get ready for the next one. But this time, something abominable is happening," he said.

"No one should give up on voting just because some scoundrel of a business owner or some crooked, criminal mayor tried to stop the people from casting their ballots."

October 25, 2026

Results show Brazilian voters in Germany back Lula

Brazilians in Germany have voted overwhelmingly for Lula, according to figures posted by Brazilian Embassies across the country and seen by DW's Portuguese service.

The left-wing incumbent, Lula, won 79.09% of the ballots cast by the 20,923 voters across Germany. This marks an increase on the 71.9% he won in the first round.

Brazilian voters in Germany could vote at embassies in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich.

The German capital saw the greatest support for Lula, with 88.77% of the votes going his way. Frankfurt was the city with the greatest support for Bolsonaro, but on 29.03% he still trailed his opponent by some margin.

The turnout also increased in the second round in comparison to the first round when it stood at 19,322. However, for both rounds, only around half of the 41,552 eligible voters turned out to vote. Across the world, there are some 918,900 eligible voters for Sunday's election.

October 25, 2026

IN PHOTOS: Almost 160 million called out to vote

October 25, 2026

What role is Trump playing in Brazil's election?

Although he hasn't endorsed either candidate, US President Donald Trump is close to the Bolsonaro family.

Not only did the senior Bolsonaro imitate Trump's rhetoric and policies, he also refused to concede defeat after losing to Lula in 2022, leading to his imprisonment for an attempted coup, provoking comparisons with Trump's own defeat to Joe Biden in 2020.

On the other side, Lula has presented himself as a defense against US interference.

The right "wants to govern with the American flag," Lula said after casting his ballot on Sunday.

A Bolsonaro win would mark a further move in Latin America toward pro-US far-right leaders, following in the footsteps of countries such as Colombia, Chile and Peru.

October 25, 2026

Results expected within hours of polls closing

The president of Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, Kassio Nunes Marques, has said he expects the winner of Sunday's vote to be announced officially between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. (2330 and 0000 GMT), according to A Folha de Sao Paolo.

Brazil uses an electronic voting system meaning that ballots can be tallied quicker than in elections where paper votes are counted by hand.

However, the gap between the winner and loser is expected to be small, with the two running head-to-head in pre-election polls.

October 25, 2026

Supreme Court president urges candidates to accept result of vote

The head of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court, Edson Fachin, has called for the candidates to respect the result of Sunday's vote.

"It's important to remember that all authority and power comes from the people and, thus, it is fundamental that the choices that derive from the manifestation of popular sovereignty are respected," he said as he left his local polling station, according to A Folha de Sao Paulo.

"Brazil needs peace and calm to, from tomorrow, be able to confront the major challenges in many areas that demand the presence of the state."

Some observers have posited that Flavio Bolsonaro could refuse to accept a Lula victory, like his father before him, with the potential for violence to erupt.