Elon Musk Flags Lula’s Election Extension as Shady After Former Lawyer Keeps Polls Open
Elon Musk agreed a last-minute move in Brazil’s presidential runoff looked shady. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, Lula’s former personal lawyer appointed by the president himself, ordered a nationwide two-hour extension of voting just as polls closed at 5 p.m.
The request came from Lula’s campaign, citing bus shortages in cities that favor the incumbent. Some stations had already shut down, machines were locked, and early results were paused, creating confusion and setting up likely challenges.
Alex Soros quickly celebrated Lula’s narrow win as Brazil “standing up against authoritarianism.” Critics noted the selective timing: the extension hit after many conservative-leaning areas had closed, while transport issues were raised in Lula-friendly zones. Both sides had filed requests, but Zanin’s order bypassed the normal electoral court process and came from a justice with direct personal ties to one candidate.
The episode fits a pattern of institutional friction in Brazil’s tight race between Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro. Musk’s short reply— “Yeah, that was shady”—echoed long-standing concerns about election integrity when rules shift mid-count under a judge linked to one side.
Lula claimed victory with roughly 52 percent of the vote; opponents argue the extension undercut a fair finish.