Lula da Silva won Brazil’s 2026 election for president. He finished behind in the first vote but won the second vote. Since Brazil started this voting system in 1989, no other candidate had won after finishing behind. This was his fourth presidential election win.
Lula turns 81 on October 27, 2026. He worked with metal in factories before he became a leader for workers. He led workers in stopping work to demand change between 1978 and 1980. These actions helped lead to the start of the Workers’ Party in 1980.
He lost three presidential elections before he won in 2002. He then served as president for two terms. His supporters say his government’s programs helped make Brazil less poor and more equal. These included programs to help families and fight hunger.
Lula went to prison in 2018 and left in 2019. In 2021, Brazil’s highest court canceled the decisions against him because the earlier court had no power to hear his case. He could run for president again and won in 2022.
After his latest win, Lula promised to give Brazil its best presidential term. But the country remains deeply divided. Political groups on the right and near the center control Congress. The political movement around former President Jair Bolsonaro also remains strong.
