Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a second-round election victory over Flávio Bolsonaro, winning 51.7% of the vote. Despite finishing behind his rival in the first round, Lula staged a comeback by focusing on economic growth, welfare measures and voter mobilisation. In this editorial, The Hindu examines the factors behind Lula’s victory, the challenges of working with a right-wing-controlled Congress and what his re-election means for Brazil and South America.
Updated - October 27, 2026 03:00 pm IST