Lula confirms second round of presidential elections and says he will defeat Flávio Bolsonaro

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) spoke on Sunday night (4) following the results of the first round of elections. The result of the election defined that the next president of the Republic will be chosen in a second round of voting on October 25th.

Lula said that "the result is often unexpected", but that the second is the "proof of nine" of the elections. The president, who is running for his fourth term, said he will defeat senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), with whom he is competing in the second round.

"The result is often unexpected, we never get everything we wanted. I confess that I was convinced that I would win the elections in the first round", he said.

"The game is about to start. We are in overtime. In overtime, we will convince the Brazilian people of the importance of continuing the project of technological and scientific development, exploration of rare earths and critical minerals, and we will show what the growth of the new industry in Brazil will be like," he stated.

Confirmation that there will be a second round was announced by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) this Sunday (4), at 8:56 pm, when 96.78% of the ballots had already been counted. At that time, Flávio Bolsonaro had 47.39% of the votes, and Lula had 44.74%.

In three weeks, voters return to the polls to decide whether Flávio Bolsonaro will govern the country for the next four years or whether Lula will have a fourth presidential term.

Lula speaks after going to the 2nd round — Photo: Reproduction/Globo

If Flávio is elected, he will take office, at the age of 45, on January 5, 2027, in the seat occupied by his father, Jair Bolsonaro, between 2019 and 2022.

If he wins, Lula will assume his fourth term at the age of 81 and will be the first Brazilian to preside over the country four times.

Flávio and Lula left behind Augusto Cury (Avante), Renan Santos (Missão), Ronaldo Caiado (PSD), Romeu Zema (Novo), Edmilson Dias (PCB), Hertz Dias (PSTU), Samara Martins (UP), Wilson Grassi (Democrat), Clariana Barão (DC) and Rui Costa Pimenta (PCO).