Lula wins fourth term as Brazil's president in tight runoff; opponent Flavio Bolsonaro refuses to concede

Summary

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term as Brazil's president, defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, in a runoff on Sunday, according to the Superior Electoral Court. The court said Lula had 51.8 per cent of valid votes against 48.2 per cent for Bolsonaro, a result that defied poll predictions. Lula, nearly 81 years old, is the first candidate since Brazil adopted the runoff system in 1989 to win after trailing in the first round. Bolsonaro has refused to accept the loss and said he would seek to annul the vote. CNBC reported that Brazilian stocks were rocked by the result.

Timeline

1. Sky News

   25 Oct 2026, 22:13 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Lula has been re-elected president of Brazil according to the electoral authority, in a result that defied poll predictions, and that his opponent refuses to accept it.

2. Hindustan Times

   26 Oct 2026, 00:20 UTCSource ↗

   Reports, citing Al Jazeera, that Lula won a historic fourth term, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro with 51.75% of votes counted.

3. France 24

   26 Oct 2026, 00:23 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Lula, nearly 81, won a fourth term in a tight runoff with 51.7% of the vote to 48.2% for Bolsonaro, and that Bolsonaro has refused to accept the loss and said he would seek to annul the vote.

4. South China Morning Post

   26 Oct 2026, 00:30 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Lula won the runoff after trailing in the first round, with 51.8 per cent of valid votes to 48.2 per cent for Bolsonaro, the first such comeback since Brazil adopted the system in 1989.

5. CBC News

   26 Oct 2026, 00:30 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Lula, a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, was re-elected on Sunday, and that Bolsonaro rejects the results.

6. The New York Times

   26 Oct 2026, 07:07 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Lula triumphed over Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the right-wing leader Lula defeated four years ago, in a blow to Latin America's right.

7. The Straits Times

   26 Oct 2026, 07:10 UTCSource ↗

   Reports from Sao Paulo that Flavio Bolsonaro, following his imprisoned father's lead, refuses to concede defeat to Lula, who won a historic fourth term on Sunday.

8. CNBC

   26 Oct 2026, 12:02 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Lula won a historic runoff after losing the first round, the first such result since Brazil returned to direct elections in 1989, and that Bolsonaro reportedly refuses to concede.