Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential elections in Brazil on Sunday, defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula obtained 50.88% of the votes compared to 49.12 for Bolsonaro, with 99.65% of the voting machines counted, according to data published on the website of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
The election serves as a referendum on two starkly different, and vehemently opposed, visions for Brazil’s future. Lula’s victory, 77, marks the first time since Brazil returned to democracy in 1985 that the incumbent president has failed to win re-election. His presidency inauguration ceremony will be held on January 1.
“Today the only winner is the Brazilian people,” Lula da Silva said in a speech at a hotel in downtown Sao Paulo. “This is not a victory for me or for the Workers’ Party, nor for the parties that supported me in the campaign. the victory of a democratic movement that was formed above political parties, personal interests and ideologies so that democracy would emerge victorious”.
In his speech, he thanked his followers and collaborators, who cheered him while he promised: “All together we will be able to arrange that country, to build it to the size of our dreams, with opportunities to transform reality.”
“Our fight does not begin and does not end with elections. Our fight is for the conquest of a fair country, a country in which all Brazilians can eat, work, study.”
On Sunday, Lula promised to unite a divided country. “I will govern for 215 million Brazilians, and not only for those who voted for me (…) There are not two Brazils. We are one country, one people, one great nation.”
At the same time, he invited international cooperation to preserve the Amazon rainforest and said that he would seek fair global trade, instead of trade agreements that “condemn our country to be an eternal exporter of raw materials.”
Biden and Blinken congratulate Lula
US President Joe Biden congratulated Lula on Sunday for his victory in “free, fair and credible elections,” in a statement in which he added that he hopes the cooperation between the two countries will continue.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also reacted on his Twitter account: “Congratulations to the Brazilian people for exercising their right to vote and reaffirming the strength of their democracy. We hope to continue our solid partnership with the president-elect @LulaOficial while we build a democratic, prosperous and equitable hemisphere”.
More than 150 million Brazilians were summoned this Sunday to participate in the presidential elections, in a complex and polarized context.
The latest voting intention surveys published this week gave Lula a slight advantage over the current president, who arrives at the elections with an approval rating for his management of just 38%, according to data of Datafolha.
In the first round the socialist Lula won with 48.43% of the voteswhile the conservative leader had finished with 43.20% of the vote.
Lula, who presided over Brazil between 2003 and 2010, characterized his presidency by deep alliances with socialist governments in Latin America, such as Cuba and Venezuela.
The leftist president returns to the presidency after jail time in 2018 for a corruption scandal prevented him from running in that year’s election, clearing the way for a right-leaning Bolsonaro to win.
Many of Bolsonaro’s supporters, who were awaiting the result, looked visibly shocked and some were crying at their leader’s defeat. Bolsonaro, 67, has made repeated allegations of electoral fraud. Until around 10 p.m. on Sunday, Bolsonaro had not referred to the result.
The Reuters news agency said, citing its sources, that electoral authorities are preparing for the president to dispute the result. Preparations include security operations in case his supporters take to the streets.
Presidents of Latin America congratulate Lula
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reacted on his Twitter account: “Lula won, blessed people of Brazil. There will be equality and humanism.”
The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, was concise and forceful on Twitter: “Lula. Happiness!”. His Argentine counterpart, Alberto Fernández said: “Congratulations @LulaOficial! Your victory opens a new time for the history of Latin America. A time of hope and future that begins today”.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted a photo on his Twitter account with Lula and former Cuban President Raúl Castro, which read: “We hug you brother President Lula.”
“We celebrate the victory of the Brazilian people, who this #30oct, elected @LulaOficial,” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wrote on his Twitter account.
as its new President. Long live the peoples determined to be free, sovereign and independent! Today in Brazil democracy triumphed. Congratulations Luna! A big hug!
The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, also congratulated Lula.
“Congratulations brother @LulaOficial, president-elect of #Brazil! Your victory strengthens democracy and Latin American integration. We are sure that you will lead the Brazilian people along the path of peace, progress and social justice. Jallalla Brasil!”, The president of Bolivia, Luis Alberto Arce, wrote on his social networks.
From Europe, the presidents of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and of France, Emmanuel Macron, congratulated Lula on Sunday on their social networks.
Congratulations, @LulaOficial, for your victory in these elections in which Brazil has decided to bet on progress and hope. Let’s work together for social justice, equality and against climate change. Your successes will be those of the Brazilian people. Parabéns, Lula!” Sánchez wrote on Twitter.
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