Lula re-elected Brazil president as Bolsonaro contests result

Brazil held its presidential runoff today between Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, with approximately 158.7 million voters going to the polls. The final Datafolha poll before voting showed Bolsonaro at 51 per cent and Lula at 49 per cent, a slight shift from Thursday when the two candidates were tied. Polling stations were scheduled to close at 5 p.m., but the Electoral Court granted a two-hour extension at the request of both candidates, who reported difficulties reaching voting stations due to severe weather.

Lula voted in São Paulo and attacked his rival as a liar after casting his ballot, thanking Brazilians for their support and affection. Bolsonaro voted in Rio and spoke of running a cheerful and clean campaign, urging voters to go to the polls. According to Datafolha, Lula was already leading the election when the count reached 85 per cent.

At nearly 81 years old, Lula has been re-elected president of Brazil and will govern the country for the fourth time. According to sources, he secured 51.7 per cent of the vote, defeating Bolsonaro in the runoff. In his first remarks, Lula said: "The Brazilian people and young people fought to defend our democracy."

Flávio Bolsonaro did not accept the electoral outcome. The defeated challenger is contesting the result and declared he will request the election be annulled, saying the outcome is impossible to accept. According to legal experts cited in reports, grounds exist for filing an annulment request, particularly due to the two-hour extension of polling and the difficulties experienced by many voters.

The two-hour polling extension sparked conflict among judges on the Electoral Court. The last-minute decision created chaos at polling stations, further fuelling contestations and legal grounds for challenging the runoff outcome.