Lula wins second consecutive term at 80 after 50% tariff fight

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a second consecutive term as president of Brazil. The 80-year-old leader defeated Flávio Bolsonaro in Sunday's runoff election. This result marks a shift in Latin American politics, where right-wing leaders have previously gained ground. Lula turns 81 on Tuesday.

The victory comes after Lula reversed a first-round defeat within three weeks. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, was his opponent in the final vote. The outcome defies the recent regional trend favoring leaders with policies similar to those of US President Donald Trump. Lula will continue to serve as Brazil's chief executive following this win.

Lula first entered the presidency in 2002 on his fourth attempt. He became the country's first leftist leader in nearly 50 years. Born to a poor peasant family, he learned to read at age 10 and worked as a shoe-shine boy. He later trained as a metalworker and lost the little finger of his left hand in an accident in the 1960s. In 1975, he led a union with 100,000 members. He co-founded the Workers' Party in 1980, the first major socialist party in Brazil's history.

During his first two terms from 2003 to 2010, Lula expanded social programs. He raised the minimum wage above inflation and expanded the Bolsa Familia grant scheme. That program assisted approximately 44 million people. He left office with an 83% approval rating after a period of sustained economic growth. Critics noted that the grants did not address structural issues like education. He was later diagnosed with throat cancer and declared cured in 2012.

His political path faced obstacles after his successor's tenure. A recession and corruption investigations shook the country. In 2017, Lula was convicted of accepting a beachside flat as a bribe from OAS. His sentence was raised to 12 years on appeal. He received a separate 12-year and 11-month sentence for corruption linked to a country house. He has always called the charges politically motivated. A Supreme Court ruling freed him in 2019, and his convictions were annulled in 2021. That legal clearance allowed him to defeat Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.

Lula stated in 2023 that his return would be his last term. His party nonetheless supported his bid this year. Environmentalists have criticized his support for offshore oil drilling near the Amazon. Lula argues that oil revenue will fund the transition to clean energy. His government cites satellite data showing deforestation in the first half of 2026 was the lowest in a decade.

Relations with the United States have fluctuated. President Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods in part due to the trial of Jair Bolsonaro, who serves a 27-year sentence. Lula accused the US of interference, saying he is not emperor of the world. Ties improved after a May meeting where Trump called Lula dynamic. The US later imposed 25% tariffs on most Brazilian goods in July. The two nations still differ on trade and crime. Lula has stated that Brazil does not fit into anyone's backyard. He also criticizes the veto power of the five permanent UN Security Council members, arguing it excludes Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, and African nations. He maintains his role in the Brics group alongside Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Lula defends his economic ties with Russia and China. He continues to buy Russian oil while that country wages war in Ukraine. These positions remain central to his foreign policy as he begins his new term.