–O. Adejo
Lula Da Silva has been elected President of Brazil in a closely contested run off election. However, Jair Bolsonaro, the incumbent President, has yet to concede defeat and accept the results. This has raised fears that the incumbent president will challenge the results.
Lula received 50.8 percent of the votes cast in the elections held on Sunday, while Bolsonaro received 49.2 percent.
Lula, speaking to supporters after being declared the winner, described the election as a victory for the Brazilian people. “This is not a victory for me, the Workers’ Party, or the other parties who backed me in the campaign. It is the victory of a democratic movement that rose above political parties, personal interests, and ideologies to ensure that democracy triumphed.”
According to reports, Bolsonaro led during the first half of the vote count, but as soon as Da Silva took over, the streets of Sao Paulo erupted in celebration.
Aljazeera also reported that the elections were the most polarising that the South American country has seen since its return to democracy in 1985. Furthermore, this is the first time in the country that the incumbent president has not been re-elected.
In Brazil, it is also customary for the losing candidate to call the winner and concede defeat. When addressing his thousands of supporters, Lula stated that Bolsonaro has yet to call him and that he does not know if Bolsonaro will call and recognise his victory.
From 2003 to 2010, Lula Da Silva was the country’s president. His campaign focused on climate change and environmental policies, promising to end illegal gold mining and fight deforestation.
Lula Da Silva Defeats Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil Run Off Elections