With his seventh presidential bid, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva puts to the test a legendary life story that encompasses a childhood of extreme poverty, labor union struggles, years in prison, a triumphant comeback, the thwarting of a coup attempt, and a pivotal role in the course of Latin American history.
At 80 years old, the leader who lifted Brazil off the hunger map faces the challenge of achieving an unprecedented turnaround this coming October 25. His main adversary is Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2022).
"The outcome is often unexpected," Lula declared at the start of his speech. "You never get everything you wanted. I confess I was convinced I would win the election in the first round," he admitted.
The election could not be decided in the first round, as none of the contenders secured more than 50% of the vote—a requirement that necessitates a runoff between the two candidates who garnered the most support at the polls. With 99.34% of the votes counted, Bolsonaro obtained 47.16% of the support, compared to the 45.01% won by Lula.
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Brazil's Federal Police are investigating possible US interference in the country's presidential election after receiving a complaint from the Attorney General's Office, the agency's director general said Sunday as voting got underway nationwide.
ReplyDelete"This is an investigation underway, a preliminary procedure. The inquiry has not yet been formally published, but we already have an investigation in progress," Federal Police chief Andrei Rodrigues told reporters in the capital Brasilia.
Rodrigues said the case had been forwarded to the agency's Intelligence Directorate for analysis as Federal Police worked to ensure the smooth running of the 2026 elections.