Brazil’s Lula beats Bolsonaro to win fourth term as president

 Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday evening won a fourth term as Brazil’s president, narrowly beating Senator Flavio Bolsonaro despite lagging him in the first round. 

Lula won roughly 51.8% of votes, while Bolsonaro took 48.2%, Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court said, with 99% of votes counted. 

Lula will remain in office from 2027 to 2030, with Sunday’s result coming even after he lost a first round vote to Bolsonaro. 

Sunday’s vote was marred by some allegations of voter suppression, with Brazil’s Supreme Court extending voting by two hours due to reports of public transportation disruptions and heavy rains in the south.

Lula’s victory is expected to keep Latin America’s largest country geared towards the left, despite a growing wave of right wing politics across the continent. 

Lula’s administration has grappled with worsening government finances and mounting debt. His fourth term will also face a Congress dominated by Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party.