Brazil: Lula da Silva wins fourth presidential term

Washington, Agencies: Outgoing left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected yesterday to a fourth non-consecutive term after defeating his conservative rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, in an election that reflected the deep political divisions in the country. Brazil’s electoral authority announced Lula’s victory after 100% of votes were counted, with him securing 51.8% of the total vote and a margin of approximately 4.4 million votes over his opponent. The victory marks a new milestone in the left-wing president’s political career, as he ran a campaign focused on national sovereignty and social justice, facing a conservative camp seeking to regain power. Speaking from São Paulo after his win, Lula said Brazilians had voted to “ensure democracy.” The result comes amid rapid political shifts in Latin America, with growing influence of right-wing currents in several countries in the region. Disappointment prevails in Israel following Lula da Silva’s victory and the defeat of his US-backed, Israel-friendly rival, Flávio Bolsonaro. The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth commented on da Silva’s win, asserting that it represents a blow to US President Donald Trump and a disappointment for Tel Aviv. The newspaper noted that da Silva achieved a “dramatic and unexpected victory,” pointing out that this outcome contradicted the expectations of poll researchers who had predicted a narrow win for Bolsonaro. It considered that “Bolsonaro’s defeat was a blow to Trump,” adding that “Lula’s victory is also disappointing news for Israel: the current president, who will celebrate his 81st birthday tomorrow (today) and continue his fourth non-consecutive term, is one of the world’s harshest critics of Israel and has consistently accused it of ‘genocide.’”