Runoff election in Brazil | Brazil: The Lula phenomenon stands out

Empathetic president: Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva greets a supporter during his final campaign rally one day before the presidential runoff election. Photo: dpa/Natacha Pisarenko When Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva enters the stage at 10:11 p.m., cheers erupt in the conference room of the hotel in São Paulo. Chants, singing, tears of joy. Lula, his voice even hoarser than usual, speaks into the microphone: Today his camp achieved something historic. And that's true.

On Sunday evening, the left-wing incumbent was 51.79 percent ahead of his ultra-right opponent Flávio Bolsonaro, who got 48.21 percent. And this despite the fact that Lula was still behind in the first round and the last polls before the election did not indicate much good for him. Such a virada – a turning point – is indeed historic. It is also historic that the 80-year-old will take office as president for the fourth time.

Igor Lisboa also believes that it is a great victory. Other countries should also follow this example, where there are signs of a rise of ultra-right forces. The 34-year-old is standing on Avenida Paulista, São Paulo's most famous street. He has painted his face red and is holding a flag in his hand. Hundreds of thousands have gathered here, dancing, singing and cheering. Fireworks crash in the air. "The Brazilian people have given fascism a slap in the face."

The result is, above all, the victory of hundreds of thousands of supporters who have thrown everything into the election campaign over the past few weeks. After the first round of voting, which was desolate for the left, she awoke from her state of shock. Huge demonstrations have taken place across the country over the past three weeks. Celebrities made solidarity videos, and supporters set up small stands in squares and street corners to convince people to vote for Lula.

It is precisely the fear of a term in office for the ultra-right candidate, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, that probably motivated many to vote. On Sunday, almost 160 million Brazilians were called upon to cast their votes. While 33 million stayed away from the polls in the first round, the number fell to 30 million in the runoff. The majority of these voters voted for Lula, as media reports show.

Lula's campaign has also managed to reclaim space on the internet. The right has so far had the upper hand there. A WhatsApp group of his supporters grew to more than ten million members in less than three weeks. Lula's "army" flooded social networks with video snippets, memes and texts that warned against Bolsonaro's term in office.

Election evening was also marked by chaos. On a judge's orders, the counting was stopped for two hours. The reason: Local public transport was restricted in numerous cities. Poorer voters in particular, who often rely on buses and tend to support Lula, could have been disadvantaged as a result. “The mayors did that on purpose because there were signs of a turnaround in favor of Lula,” says Guilherme Cortez, a politician from the left-wing party PSOL, to “nd”.

The mayors who were responsible for the restrictions were all from the Bolsonaro camp. It is still unclear whether there was a central instruction. The polling stations were then supposed to remain open for two hours longer, but were unable to accept any additional votes. Over the course of the evening, both camps finally raised allegations of fraud. In the end, Lula was ahead.

Immediately after the election results were announced, Flávio Bolsonaro announced that he wanted to have the election annulled. Other right-wing politicians also agreed with this demand. But of all people, the President of the Supreme Electoral Court, Kassio Nunes Marques, who is politically close to Bolsonaro, emphasized the "absolute security of the electoral process." Numerous heads of state and government congratulated Lula on his election victory.

However, the Bolsonarists could try to sabotage the electoral process in other ways. Already after Jair Bolsonaro senior's defeat in the 2022 election, his camp tried to seize power by force. The overthrow plans also included the assassination of Lula. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison, which he is currently serving under house arrest.

“Now we have to defend our democracy more resolutely than ever before,” says the well-known left-wing politician Erika Hilton to N-TV.de. “For this we also need the support of the international community.”

Lula faces the challenge of having to prove himself against an even more conservative parliament. The right could also try to restructure the justice system in their favor. Many Brazilians are also looking north with concern. US President Donald Trump is a close ally of the Bolsonaros and has intervened in the election campaign several times - directly and indirectly. One thing is certain: Lula will have his hands full in his last term in office.

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