Lula da Silva says Brazil "refuses to be anyone’s back yard" in victory speech

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s runoff presidential election on Sunday, overcoming Flávio Bolsonaro’s first-round advantage and securing a fourth term. The campaign centered on democracy and social programs, with Lula warning that his opponent would weaken Brazilian sovereignty by aligning with Donald Trump; Bolsonaro sought to continue the legacy of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is jailed over a coup plot after the 2022 election. In his victory speech, Lula said recent street mobilizations showed Brazil would not accept being treated as another country’s subordinate, according to the report, which linked the remark to resistance against an expanded U.S. role in Latin America. The result interrupts seven right-wing presidential victories across Latin America in 18 months, though Flávio Bolsonaro’s support exceeding 48% of valid votes highlighted the right’s continued strength.