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Lula's 'army' of volunteer drivers and online creators is credited with his shock runoff win over Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, celebrating among supporters on 26 October, whose turnaround centred on selfie-style videos and a newly built army of social media creators.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, celebrating among supporters on 26 October, whose turnaround centred on selfie-style videos and a newly built army of social media creators.

Lula da Silva, 81, pulled off one of Brazil's most dramatic election reversals after suffering a first-round defeat to far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, winning the runoff by more than 4.4 million votes. Volunteer drivers stepped in to ferry voters to polling stations after buses stopped running, while a newly assembled army of social media creators helped turn the digital tide.

Lula got his FIRST smartphone just four days before the runoff, having previously borrowed aides' phones only when necessary.

Student-led mass protests across Brazil on Saturday energised his base, with analysts also crediting a last-minute government benefits package for boosting turnout.

Betting markets had given Bolsonaro roughly an 80% chance of winning — making Lula's victory one of the biggest upsets in recent South American political history.

MoreMetroLula's victory in Brazil should have Nigel Farage watching his backThe GuardianThe secret behind Lula’s win in Brazil may be an ‘army’ – of social media creatorsIrish TimesLula’s shock election victory in Brazil does not prove betting markets failedReutersWhen buses stopped running on Brazil election day, 'Lula's Army' grabbed their car keys
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