Lula da Silva wins Brazilian elections by narrowly beating Jair Bolsonaro, according to official figures | world news


Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won the Brazilian elections, narrowly beating Jair Bolsonaro, according to official figures.

This is Brazil’s most polarized election in recent memory, pitting the far-right incumbent president against Bolsonaro against the former left-wing leader Lula da Silva.

During his victory, Mr da Silva tweeted a simple photo of his hand on the Brazilian flag and the word: “Democracy”.

It’s a stunning return to power for Mr da Silva, 77, whose 2018 jailing over a corruption scandal sidelined him in that year’s election, paving the way for the presidential candidate to win. era, Mr. Bolsonaro, and four years of far-right politics.

Image:
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Mr da Silva’s convictions were overturned but he faced an uphill battle when he decided to run for president, with millions of Brazilians continuing to believe he was corrupt.

His victory marks the first time since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985 that the incumbent president has not been re-elected.

“Time of Hope and Future”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote: “Viva Lula”, while Argentinian leader Alberto Fernandez said the victory ushered in a new era “for the history of Latin America”.

He added: “A period of hope and a future begins today.”

Brazil’s Electoral Supreme Court tally showed it was a close contest – Mr da Silva won 50.8% of the vote to Mr Bolsonaro’s 49.2%, with 98.8% counted voting machines.

The election, in the world’s fourth-largest democracy, served as a referendum on two starkly different – and fiercely opposed – visions for Brazil’s future.

Mr Bolsonaro has vowed to consolidate a sharp rightward shift in Brazilian politics after a presidency that has witnessed one of the world’s deadliest outbreaks. COVID-19[feminine] and widespread deforestation in the Amazon Basin.

Jair Bolsonaro
Image:
Jair Bolsonaro

Mr da Silva promised more social and environmental responsibility, citing the growing prosperity of his 2003-2010 presidency, before corruption scandals tarnished his Workers’ Party.

More than 120 million Brazilians were expected to vote, with voting being done electronically.

There are also fears that Mr Bolsonaro could challenge the election results if he loses – much like the former US president donald trump.

For months he claimed that the country’s electronic voting machines were prone to fraud, although he never presented evidence.

The new president, universally known as Lula, will be sworn in on January 1, 2023.

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