Lula wins Brazil presidency as Bolsonaro refuses to concede and seeks annulment

Brazil's left-wing leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won an unprecedented fourth term as president, defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a runoff that reversed the first-round result. Lula took about 52% of the vote to Bolsonaro's 48.2%, a margin of more than four million votes. Brazil's top electoral court confirmed the result.

Few expected the comeback. Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, won the first round by 47% to 45% and his campaign was confident. But Lula's supporters mounted large street rallies and a digital campaign, including a WhatsApp channel called Lula's Army that reached more than 10 million people. Turnout rose by about three million voters compared with the first round. In his victory speech, Lula thanked young Brazilians for taking to the streets to defend democracy and said he would govern for all Brazilians.

Flavio Bolsonaro has refused to concede. He says the result is impossible to recognise and his lawyers will seek to have the election annulled. His campaign points to a last-minute decision by the Supreme Electoral Court to extend voting by two hours after both campaigns raised concerns about transport disruption and heavy rain. Some polling stations had already closed when the extension was announced, and the court has certified the result. Bolsonaro's Liberal Party has acknowledged the runoff result even as its candidate refuses to accept it. Bolsonaro says he will lead the opposition to Lula's government. Federal police asked him to turn in his passport after a visit to his imprisoned father, and he has denied allegations that he was planning to flee the country.

US President Donald Trump, who backed Bolsonaro, said the election looked "rigged" but also said he likes Lula and gets along with him. Other world leaders congratulated Lula. Brazilian financial markets reacted sharply: the Real fell and the stock market had its biggest one-day fall in three decades, amid concern about Lula's spending promises and a divided Congress.

Lula, who turns 81, is a former metalworker and union leader. His supporters credit him with lifting millions out of poverty and with a fall in Amazon deforestation. Critics point to high spending, debt and taxes. He faces a country split in two and a right-wing Congress that may block parts of his agenda. The result also reverses a run of right-wing victories in Latin America. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election, and his son's refusal to concede has raised concerns about unrest.