Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a historic fourth presidential term after defeating Liberal Party candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential runoff election held on October 25, 2026. Lula received approximately 64 million votes, surpassing his previous record of 60 million votes in the 2022 election.

Following his victory, Lula pledged to govern for all Brazilians, protect national sovereignty and strengthen public participation in government decisions. He also highlighted the importance of young voters, women and older citizens in his campaign, promising greater investment in public healthcare, universities, digital infrastructure and creative industries.

Lula's victory followed a strong mobilisation campaign after the first round of voting on October 4, when he trailed Bolsonaro in the share of valid votes. Supporters organised rallies, door-to-door outreach and extensive social media campaigns to engage undecided voters and encourage participation.

The election also raised concerns about the influence of digital platforms on political campaigns. Lula criticised alleged interference by major technology companies and pledged to pursue greater regulation of technology platforms in Brazil. Meta had previously acknowledged that its artificial intelligence tool blocked certain campaign material supporting Lula while allowing similar content associated with his opponent.

Meanwhile, Flávio Bolsonaro questioned the election outcome and announced plans to seek its annulment, while US President Donald Trump also cast doubt on the result.

Lula's new term is expected to focus on public services, economic development, digital transformation and national sovereignty. The election marks a significant moment in Brazil's political landscape, with implications for domestic policy and the country's international relations.