Brazil election live: Lula beats Bolsonaro
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a victory in the Brazilian presidential election, marking his return to power for a fourth term. Despite his past popularity, his recent tenure has faced criticism regarding environmental policies and his support for offshore oil drilling.
Why it matters
Lula's presidency is a major geopolitical event for Latin America, with significant implications for the Amazon rainforest and global climate policy.
Vanessa Buschschlüter Latin America editor
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been president three times already.
When he started his third term in office in 2023, he vowed it would be his last, and yet his party endorsed him as their candidate again this year, even though he will turn 81 two days after the election.
Even backers of his party will acknowledge that he achieved more in his first two terms – from January 2003 to December 2010 – than in this most recent four years in office.
He was widely praised for lifting millions out of poverty with the help of a cash-transfer programme called Bolsa Família and left office on 1 January 2011 with record approval ratings of over 80%.
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