In brief
On Nov. 1, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva thanked voters, especially the young and seniors, via a post on X after securing 51.79 percent of valid ballots in the Oct. 25 runoff. The election saw 128.2 million electors, a 19.2 percent abstention rate, and the first time a candidate overcame a first‑round deficit. The president referenced his 2018 speech before imprisonment, framing the win as a democratic milestone.
On Nov. 1, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva posted a gratitude message on X, thanking millions of Brazilians after his victory in the Oct. 25 runoff election where he secured 51.79 percent of the valid ballots.
President Lula noted the diverse demographic of voters, saying he was especially grateful to the young, who "carry the hope for the future," and to senior citizens, who bring "memory, wisdom, and strength." He framed the result as a triumph for democracy, sovereignty, and a fairer Brazil.
"I want to express my deep gratitude to the millions of Brazilians—especially the young, who carry the hope for the future, and our dear senior citizens, who represent the memory, wisdom, and strength of our nation," Lula said in his post.
Lula’s post was accompanied by a video that combined footage from the 2026 campaign with clips from an April 2018 speech delivered a few weeks before his imprisonment, in which he promised that his ideas would endure and linked his goals to the dreams of his supporters.
According to the Superior Electoral Court, Lula, the candidate of the Workers’ Party, received 64,256,232 votes. His opponent, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party, garnered 59,826,041 votes, representing 48.21 percent of the total cast.
The second round saw the participation of 128.2 million electors out of more than 158.7 million eligible voters, resulting in an overall abstention rate of 19.2 percent.
For Lula, the victory meant surpassing Senator Bolsonaro by a margin of 4.38 percent, thereby becoming the first Brazilian presidential candidate to overcome a deficit from the first round in a runoff.
Media outlets such as the portal Brasil bb247 highlighted how the runoff showcased generational participation, with the young and older voters contributing significantly to the turnout.
President Lula stated that the votes written a new chapter in Brazil’s democratic history, acknowledging the millions of citizens who took part and calling for the continued journey of nation‑building.
He concluded his message by emphasizing that the result represents a triumph for democracy, sovereignty, and those who aspire to a fairer, stronger, and more fraternal Brazil, offering a sense of hope for the future of the nation.
