Brazil’s President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks to supporters following his victory in the presidential election run-off, in São Paulo, Brazil (Image: Reuters)
Former Brazil president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won 50.8% of the votes polled defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and scoring a political comeback
Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro making a political comeback in one of the most polarised elections in Brazilian history.
At least 99% of the votes have been counted and it indicates that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won 50.8% of the votes polled while the firebrand right-wing president won 49.1% of the polled votes. He secured 59 million votes compared to the 57 million votes won by Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula’s political career was overshadowed with charges of corruption and the former president also served time in jail but a judge threw out the cases against him last year. He served 580 days in jail.
Several news outlets reported that in many cities Lula supporters were celebrating the victory and fall of the incumbent president who is being held responsible for the poor handling of Covid-19 pandemic and the deforestation of the Amazon while also threatening the indigenous tribes that live deep inside the rainforest.
“We are going to live in new times of peace, love and hope. I will govern for 215m Brazilians … and not just for those who voted for me. There are not two Brazils. We are one country, one people – a great nation,” Lula said in his speech following his victory, according to a report by the Guardian.
He said it is in nobody’s interests to live in a Brazil that remains divided and in a constant state of war.
Lula said that his victory is a victory of a democratic movement, which transcends above the interests of parties and ideologies.
Colombia’s left-wing president Gustavo Petro and Canadian leader Justin Trudeau congratulated Lula on his victory.
(this is a developing story, more details are being added)
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