Lula mobilised millions to win Brazil's election as Bolsonaro contests loss

Business Standard · 27/10/2026, 2:34:06 am

President Donald Trump suggested on Monday, without providing evidence, that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's reelection was "rigged." "Elections have to be indisputable and it looked very bad to me," Trump told reporters before flying to Mississippi for a rally. He added, "I thought it had a very bad look, the way it was tabulated." Trump also said: "It looked like another rigged election, frankly." Da Silva's comeback to win Brazil's presidential runoff Sunday is already facing its first hurdle as his competitor, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, challenges the results, setting the stage for a possible showdown between the country's two polarizing political forces. Lula, who convinced an extra 10.4 million voters to support him in the runoff, is expected to take office on Jan. 5, 2027, for his fourth non-consecutive term. He will serve as a counterweight in a region where leaders are shifting to the right and aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro, son of former