Brazil: how did Lula beat far-right Bolsonaro?

Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a historic fourth term as president, defeating the far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in a dramatic comeback. Lula is the first candidate to win a runoff election after losing in the first round – taking victory with 51.79% of the vote to his rival’s 48.21%. His win bucks a regional trend, after the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro had spearheaded a radical populist movement. But with Flávio Bolsonaro refusing to concede defeat, what’s next for Brazil? Michael Safi speaks to Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips

Brazil: how did Lula beat far-right Bolsonaro?

TL;DR

  • Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a historic fourth term as president of Brazil.
  • He defeated far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff election with 51.79% of the vote.
  • Lula is the first candidate to win a runoff after losing the first round.
  • His victory goes against a regional trend of radical populist movements.
  • Flávio Bolsonaro has refused to concede defeat.