Former left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva narrowly won Brazil’s presidential election, and outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate, has yet to comment on the results amid speculation that he could challenge them.
The Supreme Electoral Court announced the results of the second round, as a result of which da Silva became the President of Brazil with 50.9% of the vote, compared with 49.1% for his rival Bolsonaro. This is a historic defeat for Bolsonaro, who became the first Brazilian president to lose an election for a second term. In his victory speech on Sunday night local time in São Paulo, da Silva told tens of thousands of cheering supporters: “So far Bolsonaro has not called me to confirm my victory, and I don’t know if he will call or confirm my victory. da Silva said that his country “needs peace and unity”, while stressing that it has returned to the international arena and no longer wants to be “outcast”.
“No one is interested in living in a divided nation in a state of perpetual war,” he said after a highly polarized election campaign. “Today we tell the world that Brazil is back” and that it is “ready to reclaim its place in the fight against the climate crisis,” he added. The president-elect, due to take office on January 1, has called for international cooperation to conserve the Amazon rainforest and has said he will strive to achieve fair global trade instead of trade agreements that “condemn our country as an exporter of raw materials.” materials forever.
Da Silva received congratulations from a number of world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who said in a statement: “I congratulate Luiz Inácio Lulu da Silva on his election as President of Brazil in a free, fair and credible election,” adding that he looked forward to working with him “to continue cooperation between our two countries.” French President Emmanuel Macron also congratulated him, saying that his election as President of Brazil “opens a new page” in the history of this country. “Together we will combine our efforts to face many common challenges and renew the bonds of friendship between our two countries,” Macron tweeted minutes after the announcement of the Brazilian presidential election results. For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that “Brazilians have made a decision”, adding: “I look forward to working with Lula to strengthen the partnership between our two countries and advance our common priorities such as protecting the environment.” Regarding Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he tweeted: “If not for him, the blessed people of Brazil. There will be equality and humanity.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “My warmest congratulations to Lula on his fantastic victory in the Brazilian elections. I look forward to working with you to protect the environment.” Da Silva, a 77-year-old icon of the left, was imprisoned on corruption charges in 2018 and 2019 before the Supreme Court invalidated the case and ordered his release. Da Silva ruled Brazil for two presidential terms from 2003 to 2010, during which he launched social programs that won him widespread popular support.
