Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won re-election on 25 October 2026, securing a fourth term. He received 51.8% of valid votes, compared with 48.2% for Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a lead of about 4.4 million votes. Lula had finished behind his rival in the first round.
Thousands of supporters celebrated on São Paulo’s Paulista Avenue, waving flags, singing and dancing. Celebrations continued into Monday, with similar scenes in other cities. Bolsonaro refused to accept the result and said he would challenge it in court, pointing to a Supreme Court decision that extended voting by two hours.
Environmental groups welcomed Lula’s victory because of his government’s record on protecting the Amazon. Deforestation, or the clearing of forests, has fallen to its lowest level since monitoring began in 1988. However, the rainforest continues to shrink, and fires and drought remain threats.
Lula faces political difficulties despite his victory. Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party won the most seats in both chambers of Congress, which could make passing legislation harder. Centre-right parties will play an important role in deciding whether laws pass. Greenpeace Brazil called for continued public action to protect environmental progress.
