Brazil has taken a turn to the left as former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Brazil has taken a turn to the left as former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
After a divisive campaign which saw two bitter rivals on opposite sides of the political spectrum go head to head, Lula won 50.9% of the votes.
It was enough to beat Jair Bolsonaro, whose supporters had been confident of victory.
The country’s Superior Electoral Court verified the win.
The court said da Silva secured slightly more than 50.84% of the vote, with 99.10% of votes counted, in a runoff election that was held after neither candidate got enough support to win outright this month.
Pre-election polls had given da Silva, a former metalworker and union leader known universally as “Lula,” a commanding lead.
Bolsonaro, who had repeatedly stoked fears he may seek to contest and cast doubt on the result if he lost, did not immediately concede defeat.
Lula Narrowly Wins Brazil’s High-Stakes Election, Ending Bolsonaro’s Far-Right Presidency.
The result is a stunning political comeback for Lula—as the 77-year-old president-elect is universally known.