A final surge: on Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s triumph in Brazil

At one point, it seemed almost impossible for Brazil’s 80-year-old President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to turn the tide after finishing second to Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round of elections on October 4. In Brazil’s history, no candidate who has finished second in the first round has gone on to win the presidential run-off. Most of the candidates who dropped out after the first round were from the right. Flávio’s Liberal Party cemented its position in both houses of Congress, while right-wing candidates won several provincial elections. But Lula, a former trade unionist and organiser, who lost a finger in an accident as a teenager, was not ready to give up. Lula and his Workers’ Party identified campaign weaknesses, shifted their attention to economic issues, promised growth and welfare, and persuaded more voters to turn out for Sunday’s run-off. Lula won 51.7% of the vote against Flávio’s 48.2%, a greater lead than his victory against Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father, four years ago. Over the weeks, Lula turned the right-wing’s gains in the first round against it, highlighting the threats that a Bolsonaro victory could pose to democracy and civil rights. Flávio’s campaign pledge to free his father — he is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting to overturn Lula’s 2022 victory, and impeach Supreme Court judges — only heightened the concerns of voters outside the right wing, who rallied behind a familiar face.Lula unleashed a social media campaign to mobilise younger voters. A WhatsApp channel called ‘Lula’s Army’ with 11 million followers spread his message of continuity. He also announced plans to expand a cash payout scheme for the poor, a new debt relief package and entrepreneur-friendly measures. In the northeast, the Workers’ Party’s stronghold, he gained nearly three million votes and made considerable gains in the working-class neighbourhoods of big cities, including São Paulo. A relatively stable economic record, marked by growth and falling unemployment over the past three and a half years, also lent credibility to Lula’s appeal. His victory bucks the recent trend in South America, where Washington-aligned right-wing and conservative forces have gained ground. While Lula offers predictable stability and social and economic inclusiveness, he could also be, as the President of South America’s largest economy, a voice of resistance to Donald Trump’s imperial ambitions. At the same time, Lula will have to work with a right-wing-controlled Congress to advance his agenda. He should seek to build legislative consensus while focusing on addressing the economic challenges of Brazil, which remains one of the most unequal major world economies. Published - October 27, 2026 12:20 am IST