Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, rejected the results and called for the election to be annulled after confusion arose when the Supreme Court extended voting by two hours. Polling stations in some cities reopened, while others remained closed. “This was a defeat for denialism and lies,” Lula said in his victory speech.

The Trump administration had supported Bolsonaro through campaign endorsements, financial bailouts, and military aid, aiming to align Brazil with hard-line right-wing leaders in the region. A Bolsonaro win would have represented a strategic gain for the U.S., as he pledged to join the U.S.-led “Shield of the Americas” anti-cartel coalition. “The U.S. is certainly putting its finger on the scale to try to help the more hard-line right-wing elements in the region,” said Kenneth Roberts, a professor of government at Cornell University.

Lula has maintained Brazil’s nonaligned foreign policy, expanding ties with China and pushing for greater international influence through BRICS. He criticized the U.S. for imposing high tariffs and designating Brazilian drug cartels as terrorist groups, which he argued could justify foreign intervention. “We don’t accept being treated like children,” Lula said after the U.S. classified Brazil’s top criminal syndicates as terrorist groups.

Voters were motivated by concerns over crime, economic instability, and corruption. Flávio Bolsonaro campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform and promised to reduce food costs, while Lula focused on social welfare and economic incentives.

The election was marked by logistical issues, including last-minute changes to voting hours and allegations of judicial bias. Lula’s campaign highlighted these issues as evidence of a lack of transparency, while Bolsonaro’s camp accused the court of favoring the incumbent. Rodrigo Valentim, a Bolsonaro supporter, said: “I don’t understand how people can vote for Lula.”

In his victory speech, Lula emphasized Brazil’s sovereignty and democratic values, vowing to protect the country from foreign interference. “This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard,” he said. Lula is set to begin his fourth non-consecutive term on January 5, 2027.