Lula Narrowly Defeats Bolsonaro in Divisive Brazilian Presidential Election
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Brazilian voters chose left-wing former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro by a narrow margin of 50.9% to 49.1% in Sunday’s runoff election. While world leaders congratulated Lula on his victory, Bolsonaro did not make any public statements by Monday afternoon.
Key Quotes: Lula congratulated those who “went to the polls, who consented to fulfill their civilizing commitment of citizenship,” adding, “above all, I want to congratulate the people who voted for me because I consider myself a citizen who had a process of resurrection in Brazilian politics because they tried to bury me alive and I’m here.”
For Context: Lula was imprisoned for 580 days on corruption charges following his first two terms as president, but the charges were annulled in 2021 by the country’s Supreme Court. While Lula won by wide margins in Brazil’s northeast, Bolsonaro won in the wealthier southern region. Many speculated whether Bolsonaro, often compared to former U.S. President Donald Trump, would also try to overturn his country’s election results.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread across the spectrum, often calling the election “divisive,” “stunning,” and “fiercely contested.” Many framed the result as a victory for South America’s political left. While Fox News (Right bias) joined many left-rated outlets in asking, “will Bolsonaro accept the results?”, a Daily Wire (Right bias) headline labeled Lula an “Ex-Con.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Brazil election: Lula da Silva wins presidency as nation swings left — will Bolsonaro accept the results?
Brazil’s left-wing former president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, commonly known as Lula, narrowly won a tightly contested presidential election tonight with a margin of just under 2%.
With 50% of precincts reporting, Bolsonaro clung to a narrow 0.5% lead, but the general trend over the course of the evening was a slow and steady upswing for Lula, as votes trickled in from the northeast. Just before 7pm, with 72% of precincts reporting, Lula took his first lead of the night, and continued to expand his lead.
It was also going...
From the Left
Lula da Silva will return to Brazil’s presidency in stunning comeback
Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva has been elected the next president of Brazil, in a stunning comeback following a tight run-off race on Sunday. His victory heralds a political about-face for Latin America’s largest country, after four years of Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right administration.
The 76-year-old politician’s win represents the return of the left into power in Brazil, and concludes a triumphant personal comeback for Lula da Silva, after a series of corruption allegations lead to his imprisonment for 580 days. The sentences were later annulled by the Supreme Court, clearing his path...
From the Center
While Bolsonaro remains silent, his allies begin accepting defeat
To varying degrees, several of Mr. Bolsonaro’s most prominent allies have already recognized President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory, as have the Superior Electoral Court, the heads of both the House and Senate, and several major world leaders.
But Mr. Bolsonaro, more than 12 hours after the result became final, has yet to open his mouth.
Brazil’s electoral system makes the strategy of a U.S.-style “Big Lie” much more difficult....
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