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Politics

Lula da Silva wins Brazil's presidential election

Lula obtained 50.83% of the votes compared to 49.17% for Bolsonaro, with almost two million votes casted and 99% of them counted

October 30, 2022 7:29pm

Updated: October 31, 2022 8:53am

Lula da Silva won the presidential elections in Brazil, defeating President Jair Bolsonaro and returning to power after leading the nation between 2003 and 2010.  

Lula obtained 50.83% of the votes compared to 49.17% for Bolsonaro, with almost two million votes casted and 99% of them counted. 

Polls before Election Day showed that the race between both candidates was going to be close. Many tipped the scales in favor of Bolsonaro, while others pointed to a technical tie.

Lula Da Silva ran as the presidential candidate of the Workers' Party, of which he is its honorary president.

Lula, 77, led Brazil during its boom in the first decade of the century. After his term as president ended, Lula was convicted on corruption charges and spent 580 days in prison.

However, the Federal Court dismissed the convictions and ruled that the judge in his cases was biased.

Lula's victory is a victory has left six of the seven of the largest countries in the region governed by socialist politicians.

In this second round, voters were also called to elect 12 of the country's 27 governors. In one of the most striking elections, Bolsonaro's candidates defeated Lula's challenger in Sao Paulo.