The 77-year-old former factory worker and two-time president has made an astonishing political comeback by narrowly defeating his opponent, far-right politician Bolsonaro in Brazil's presidential elections.
Lula defeated his bitter rival by securing 50.9% of the votes, with Bolsonaro getting 49.10%. The astounding comeback shocked many as Lula could not contest the 2018 elections due to his imprisonment on corruption charges which have since then been quashed.
“We are going to live new times of peace, love and hope,” said Lula, in an address to journalists in São Paulo, adding, "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."
Bolsonaro on the other hand remained silent after his defeat, and has not issued any public statements, leading many to speculate whether he will decry the results, after him and his supporters spent months building a narrative of voter fraud based on Brazil's electronic voting system.
"Anywhere in the world, the losing president would already have called to admit defeat. He hasn’t called yet, I don’t know if he will call and concede," Lula told a charged crowd, noting Bolsonaro's silence.