BRASÍLIA, Brazil — Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term as president of Brazil, defeating conservative Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff that ended with a political standoff: the loser refused to concede and called for the election to be annulled.

Lula, 80, took 51.8 percent of the vote, a lead of nearly 4.4 million votes, according to reporting on the results. His four terms are not consecutive; he previously served from 2003 to 2010 before returning to office after the 2022 election.

Lula: "Generosity" of the Brazilian People

In a victory message, Lula said: "I would like to thank the Brazilian people for the generosity they have shown me for a long time." The win extends the career of one of Latin America's most prominent leftist figures and keeps the region's largest economy under the leadership of the Workers' Party.

Bolsonaro Calls for Annulment

Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, refused to concede and said he would seek to annul the election. He called a Supreme Court-ordered extension of voting a "dirty trick."

The extension, a last-minute two-hour lengthening of voting hours ordered by Justice Cristiano Zanin, delayed the count but did not change the result, according to electoral court president Kassio Nunes Marques. Electoral authorities and Brazil's Supreme Court have accepted the outcome.

The dispute echoes the turmoil that followed Brazil's 2022 election, when supporters of Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in Brasília in January 2023 after his loss to Lula. Whether the current challenge gains traction in the courts, or on the streets, is now the key question for Brazil's political stability.

Why It Matters for the United States

Brazil is the largest economy in South America, a major agricultural and energy exporter and a key player in the BRICS bloc. The result matters to American businesses, investors and policymakers on trade, climate policy and relations with China. A fourth Lula term suggests continuity in Brazil's foreign policy, including its emphasis on non-alignment in global conflicts.

The vote also lands as the Trump administration pursues an assertive agenda in the Western Hemisphere. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week urged Cubans to pursue change through "a discrete partnership with the CIA," and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado returned home after more than 10 months in exile, posting, "I am here. With you." Brazil, under Lula, has often positioned itself as a counterweight to Washington's approach in the region.

A Global Week of Political Upsets

Brazil is one of several countries where elections or protests are reshaping politics. In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat after a student-led movement won at least 135 of 250 seats in parliament, according to reports. In France, more than 1,000 people were arrested after another weekend of unrest, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her 2027 campaign before 8,500 supporters in Orléans. Israel holds parliamentary elections on Tuesday.

What Happens Next

Brazil's electoral authorities have accepted the result, and the Supreme Court has backed it, so Lula is expected to be inaugurated on schedule. The more uncertain questions are whether Bolsonaro's annulment push gains support among his base and whether protests follow. Markets and foreign governments will watch closely for any sign of instability.

For Lula, the challenge now turns to governing a deeply divided country. He faces an electorate nearly split down the middle, a sharp rivalry with the Bolsonaro family and economic pressures including inflation and global trade tensions. The slim margin, a little over 51 percent, means his mandate is real but narrow.

This story is developing.