Lula’s landslide win over Jair Bolsonaro – Brazil’s most important 5 point election Three injured in gunshots in front of fast food restaurant – wanted

The election results

After Lula won the first round of voting by a smaller than expected a month ago, the result in the decisive second round came even closer. Former head of state Lula won 50.90 percent of the votethe Electoral Office in Brasília announced Sunday evening (local time). Jair Bolsonaro received 49.10 percent of the vote. According to the authority, after 99 percent of the votes were counted, it was no longer mathematically possible that the result could tilt again, so Lula’s victory was certain. After all votes were counted, the shares remained unchanged.

The emotional election day

The election campaign between the left-wing ex-president, whose full name is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro has been bitter, at times extremely dirty, for the past 30 days. Brazilians have been inundated with a deluge of misinformation, especially on social media and Whatsapp groups.

Accordingly, Brazil celebrated the decisive election day in a heated and emotional atmosphere. Lula started the day as the favorite based on the election results from a month ago and polls that gave him 52 percent of the vote. But when polls closed at 9 p.m. Swiss time and the count began, Bolsonaro initially appeared to have turned the tide in his favor. Meanwhile, the right-wing populist incumbent, whose rhetoric has repeatedly been compared to Donald Trump, was more than two percentage points ahead of Lula.

However, about two hours after the start of the count, the trend reversal in favor of Lula finally became apparent. Bolsonaro now led by only one per mille of voting shares. After 90 percent had been counted, Lula was then relatively clear in the lead, which he did not have to relinquish until the end.

Lula’s reaction

As a first reaction, Lula posted a photo of the Brazilian flag holding a hand on Twitter on Sunday. Above that was ‘Democracy’. Thousands of supporters of the Labor Party (PT) candidate celebrated Lula’s victory on Avenida Paulista boulevard in the metropolis of São Paulo.

Later, in São Paulo, Lula explained to his supporters of São Paulo that he wanted to unite the deeply divided country. “I will rule for 215 million Brazilians,” he declared in his maiden speech. “There are not two Brazilians, but one people.”

Now is the time to restore peace. “I am convinced that we will find a way out so that this country can live democratically and harmoniously again,” said Lula.

Meanwhile, his supporters celebrated their victory appropriately. Photos show how big the crowd was on the streets of Brazilian cities.

Former trade unionist Lula ruled Latin America’s largest country, with a population of 210 million, from early 2003 to late 2010. He is Brazil’s first democratically elected president for a third term. Many supporters of the 77-year-old associate Lula with Brazil’s golden age, when the economy boomed due to high commodity prices and the government lifted millions of people out of abject poverty through social programs. The return of the ex-president was celebrated in the streets with accompanying euphoria.

Bolsonaro’s response

Even hours after the results were announced, Jair Bolsonaro has still not responded. However, some of the outgoing president’s allies acknowledged Lula’s victory.

It was feared beforehand that violence would break out, especially after a narrow election result. Bolsonaro had repeatedly questioned the electoral system and indicated that he might not recognize the result. Since the relaxation of gun laws during his tenure, many of his supporters have armed themselves heavily. Just on Saturday, a member of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party (PL) chased a man at gunpoint after an argument.

In addition, some supporters of the incumbent party openly called for a military coup. However, experts saw insufficient support for this in society and the armed forces.

Bolsonaro’s supporters see their former head of state as a defender of traditional family values ​​and economic freedom and as a bulwark against the perceived threat of communism. However, he also alienated many people with his sometimes vulgar statements against women, homosexuals and indigenous peoples. With his blockade on climate protection, his idiosyncratic corona policy and his attacks on democratic institutions such as the Supreme Court, he puts Brazil on the world stage.

The reactions of the world

French President Emmanuel Macron immediately congratulated Lula on the election. “A new chapter in Brazil’s history is opening,” he wrote on Twitter. “We will join forces to meet the many common challenges and renew the friendship between our two countries.” In recent years, Macron has clashed with Brazilian President Bolsonaro, especially over international environmental policy.

US President Joe Biden also directly congratulated Lula on the election. The elections were free, fair and credible and he looks forward to future cooperation between their two countries.

The election in Brazil is also of international importance. As a huge carbon reservoir, the Amazon plays an enormously important role in the fight against global climate change. In addition, Brazil, with its large natural resources, high share of green energy and large agricultural economy, is a potentially important trading partner for many countries worldwide. (against)

With material from the news agencies SDA and DPA.