Brazil's Lula, 80, wins a historic fourth term as the vocal Trump critic defeats jailed ex-president's son Flávio Bolsonaro
Flávio Bolsonaro, who vowed to free his father Jair from a 27-year sentence if he wins today's runoff, trails President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by no margin in final polling.Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving his sentence under house arrest, lost to Lula da Silva in 2022 — no candidate trailing after a Brazilian first round has ever won a runoff.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured 51.7 per cent of the vote against Flávio Bolsonaro's 48.2, despite having trailed his opponent by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round. The victory came after a Supreme Court ruling, obtained at Lula's own campaign's request, extended voting by two hours at certain polling stations in Bahia. Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of jailed ex-president Jair Bolsonaro. Lula inherits a Congress resistant to his agenda and a deeply divided nation.
Lula told voters his rival 'wants to govern with the American flag'.
Lula himself was jailed for over 18 months in a massive corruption scandal.
Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup.
