Lula's 'Extraordinary Victory' Faces Growing Middle Class, Deeply-entrenched Bolsonarismo & Big Tech

Oct 26, 2026 | Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Dr Felipe Krause, Political Scientist, former Diplomat and Departmental Lecturer in Latin American Studies at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies. Beneath Lula's electoral triumph lies a more complex political reality: the Brazilian hard right has consolidated its influence across state governments and legislative institutions, raising fundamental questions about the balance of power and the future of progressive governance. Lula will be focusing more on "working to keep things from eroding" rather than advancing his progressive agenda, explains Dr. Krause. 'There is more need for economic measures that support the growing middle class."

Brazil: Lula Wins Stunning Upset over Flávio Bolsonaro in Blow to Far-right & Trump

Oct 26, 2026 | Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a record fourth term in office, defeating far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro by 4 million votes in a runoff election on Sunday. Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who remains under house arrest for plotting a coup against Lula four years ago. The younger Bolsonaro, who narrowly defeated Lula in the first round of voting earlier this month, is now refusing to concede. Lula's surprise comeback comes after weeks of student-led organizing and campaigning on his behalf, and amid accusations that U.S.-based tech companies were suppressing Lula's reach online in favor of his Trump-aligned opponent. "The amount of organizing, the amount of marches and rallies, campaigning, pamphlets that we've seen the last three weeks has been something that I have never seen in my entire life, ever, covering elections for decades in so many different countries. It is absolutely unprecedented," says Brazil-based journalist Michael Fox. "It is an absolute game-changer for the region."


Fascists and people on the far-right always seem to have trouble accepting the results of fair elections which go against them. This seems to be a pattern that repeats itself. Flávio’s father before him and of course their big fascist chum(p) in America, who also has a penchant for rejecting results of elections which go against them. It’s time for these people to grow up! My congratulations to Lula on his stunning victory. — © Mark Alexander

Dieu merci, les Brésiliens ont retrouvé la raison et ont rejeté le fascisme ! — © Mark Alexander

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Lula Wins Brazil’s Presidency, in Stunning Blow to Latin America’s Right

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva triumphed over Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the right-wing leader he defeated four years ago.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil in São Paulo after winning the presidential runoff election on Sunday. Credit: Andre Penner/Associated Press
Brazilian voters on Sunday handed the leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a fourth term in office and a surprise victory over Flávio Bolsonaro, his right-wing challenger, in a striking rebuke to a conservative surge sweeping Latin America.

Mr. Bolsonaro refused to accept the outcome and said it was the result of foul play, increasing the risk of unrest over the election result.

The rejection by voters of Mr. Bolsonaro, the son of a former president jailed for attempting a coup four years ago, is also a loss for President Trump, who had embraced the Bolsonaro family and the region’s rising right.

Mr. Lula, in contrast to many world leaders, has often and defiantly clashed with Mr. Trump, and his victory suggests that Latin America’s left-wing forces still wield influence despite a string of losses across the hemisphere. This is the first leftist victory following seven straight wins by right-wing leaders in the region over the last 18 months.

“I would like to thank the Brazilian people for the generosity they have shown me for a long time,” Mr. Lula said, during a victory speech in São Paulo, flanked by his wife, running mate and allies. » | Ana Ionova and Adam B. Ellick | Ana Ionova reported from Brasília and Adam B. Ellick from São Paulo. | {ublished: Sunday, October 25, 2026. Updated: Monday, October 26, 2026

LESEN SIE AUCH:

„Was heute geschehen ist, war nicht normal. Es war inakzeptabel“: Flávio Bolsonaro erkennt den Ausgang der Stichwahl in Brasilien nicht an. Er will diese wegen einer verlängerten Abstimmungszeit anfechten. »

À LIRE AUSSI :

La joie des partisans de Lula face aux larmes de ceux de Bolsonaro: le Brésil divisé par la victoire de la gauche : Déjouant les pronostics, le président brésilien de gauche Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a été réélu dimanche, décrochant un quatrième mandat inédit, mais son rival conservateur Flavio Bolsonaro a annoncé son intention de faire annuler le scrutin. »

Le Brésil dénonce une « tentative d'ingérence » dans l'élection après des propos de Javier Milei

Le président argentin Javier Milei réagit lors du Gala de l’héritage hispanique à Washington, DC, aux États-Unis, le 14 octobre 2026. TIERNEY L CROSS / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : Brasilia a fustigé les « offenses » du dirigeant argentin, y voyant « une nouvelle tentative inacceptable d’ingérence extérieure dans le processus démocratique brésilien ».

Le ministère brésilien des Affaires étrangères a accusé mardi Javier Milei de « tentative d'ingérence » dans le second tour de l'élection présidentielle de dimanche, après que le président argentin a estimé que son homologue brésilien Lula pourrait « voler l'élection ».

La relation entre les deux chefs d'État s'était déjà tendue en juillet, lorsque Javier Milei avait traité le président de gauche sortant Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva de « voleur » et de « corrompu », lors du lancement de la candidature présidentielle de Flavio Bolsonaro, qui affrontera Lula au second tour dimanche. Mardi, le dirigeant ultralibéral a de nouveau attaqué son homologue : « J'espère que le dernier coup de sa campagne sale ne consistera pas à voler l'élection... gauchiste voleur », a écrit Milei sur X. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 21 octobre 2026

Trump & AI Companies Blatantly Meddled in Brazil’s Election to Help the Fascist

Oct 6, 2026 | Fascist Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of disgraced insurrectionist ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, came out ahead of leftist President Lula da Silva in Brazil’s election by 2-points. Both candidates will face off in a runoff election in three weeks.

Flávio Bolsonaro prevailed, in part, because he enticed Trump to get involved by promising to give American corporations access to Brazil’s natural resources. In other words, Flávio Bolsonaro is willing to sell out his own country for power.

Big tech companies also got involved and waged a disinformation campaign to help Bolsonaro.

In this video we’ll talk about how Trump and AI companies blatantly meddled with Brazil’s election and talk about why the far-right did so well more broadly speaking.

Why the Far-right Surge in Brazilian Elections? • FRANCE 24 English

Oct 5, 2026 | Do voters care about attempted coups? Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro on the cusp of unseating Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 25th presidential runoff, Bolsonaro whose father was jailed over the Brazilian version of the January 6th storming of the US Capitol. Up and down the ballot, there are other Bolsonaros elected in the first round as the far-right surges. Is it about incumbent fatigue? Do Brazilians subscribe to Bolsonaro’s "God, Homeland, Family" mantra?

And what will it take for the 80-year-old Lula to convince enough of the 21-percent of voters who stayed home last Sunday to come out for the second round? We’ll ask how Brazil’s doing on the economy, crime, and rule of law. A democracy was built in the wake of a military dictatorship included safeguards intended to force compromise and prevent a return to strongman rule.

Is that still what Brazilians want? What does it say when the region's powerhouse is poised to become the seventh nation in the Americas to veer to the right since the return to power last year of Donald Trump?

Democracy Now! Lula vs. Bolsonaro (Again): Brazil's Presidential Race Goes to Runoff as Right Wing Makes Gains

Oct 5, 2026 | Brazil's presidential election is headed to a runoff between leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro after neither candidate cleared 50% in Sunday's vote, in which the right made gains in Congress and in governor races across the country. Bolsonaro received 47% of the vote compared to Lula's 45%. The second round of voting is on October 25. If elected, Flávio Bolsonaro has vowed to grant amnesty to his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest and serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup in 2022 to overturn Lula's last victory. He has also vowed to strengthen ties to the Trump administration, which is accused of trying to influence the result in Bolsonaro's favor.

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Élection présidentielle au Brésil : Flavio Bolsonaro largement devant Lula au 1er tour

Cette capture d'écran provient de cet article du Figaro. | Le président de gauche sortant Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva et Flavio Bolsonaro. Adriano Machado / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : Le fils de l’ancien président d’extrême droite Jair Bolsonaro comptait à minuit environ 50,2% des suffrages lors de ce décompte partiel, contre quelque 41,6% pour Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. À 23h50, 47% des bulletins ont été dépouillés.

A minuit, le sénateur conservateur Flavio Bolsonaro dispose d’une large avance sur le président sortant de gauche Lula alors qu’environ un quart des urnes ont été dépouillées dimanche au premier tour de la présidentielle brésilienne.

Le fils de l’ancien président d’extrême droite Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) compte environ 50,20% des suffrages lors de ce décompte partiel, contre quelque 41,63% pour Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. À 23h50, 47% des bulletins ont été dépouillés.

S’il conserve plus de 50% des voix, il sera élu à la surprise générale dès dimanche, alors que les derniers sondages prévoyaient un second tour le 25 octobre. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | dimanche 4 octobre 2026