Brazil's Lula wins re-election in comeback victory

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

Brazil's president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 81, has won re-election, defeating far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.

Brazil's president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 81, has won re-election in what the Financial Times describes as one of the greatest unexpected victories in modern democratic politics. He defeated far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, by more than 4.4 million votes.

The Guardian reports that Lula's campaign initially faltered in the digital arena. Four days before his comeback, the president acquired his first smartphone, having previously avoided personal mobile phones to prevent constant calls during his downtime. He began his campaign relying on aides' phones only when necessary, but this strategy backfired when he suffered an unexpected first-round defeat to Bolsonaro.

Lula subsequently overhauled his digital approach, recording selfie-style videos and embracing social media more directly. The Guardian reports that analysts and Lula himself credit this reinvention as central to his victory. Notably, a WhatsApp group called 'Lula's Army' became the driving force behind the social media shift, though Lula's campaign neither created nor ran the group. Other factors in his victory included student-led mass protests across Brazil and a package of government benefits Lula approved before the election.

How it is being reported

• The secret behind Lula’s win in Brazil may be an ‘army’ – of social media creatorsThere are many explanations for the incumbent president’s win over Flávio Bolsonaro, but analysts – and he – point to reinvention of his social media use Four days before his stunning electoral comeback, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, got his first smartphone. Lula, who turned 81 last Tuesday, had long said he wanted to avoid an endless stream of calls during his rare moments off, and he began his presidential campaign by sticking to an old habit: using aides’ phones – only when necessary. Continue reading...The Guardian · 31 Oct, 13:37
• Lula, Brazil’s 81-year-old comeback kidThe four-time president has pulled off one of the greatest unexpected victories in modern democratic politicsFinancial Times · 30 Oct, 16:57

In this story: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Flávio Bolsonaro · Jair Bolsonaro · Brazil

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log