Brazilian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wins 3rd term as the President of Brazil

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The leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Worker Party won his third term as the President of Brazil after narrowly defeating the incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff election. Declaring the result on 30 October 2022 the Supreme Electoral Court of Brazil, declared Lula as the next President.  Lula secured 50.9% of votes against 49.1% for Bolsonaro and he received more than 60 million votes, the most in Brazilian history. 

The 77-year-old Lula's will take oath of his office on 1 January 2023 for another 4 year term.

Runoff Election 

Under the Brazilian constitution a candidate has to win more than half of the votes polled and if none of the candidates secure the required votes then there is another round of voting called run off polls.

In the runoff polls the top two candidates who secures the maximum votes can contest again for the post.

In the first round of voting held on 2 October 2022 neither Lula nor Bolsonaro got the required votes. Hence the runoff election was conducted on 30 October 2022.  

 Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva 

Lula first became the President of Brazil after he won the 2002 election and he was re-elected again in the 2006 election. However he was convicted in a case of corruption in 2017 and was sentenced to 9 and half years to prison. Later he was released from prison after the Federal Supreme Court overturned his conviction.

Pink Tide in Latin America 

Lula’s election marks the continuation of the Pink tide in the Latin American politics where the leftist leaders are coming back to power. His victory over far-right president Jair Bolsonaro leaves Brazil joining Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Peru in a growing leftist bloc. 

Brazil 

It is the fifth largest country in the world area wise after Russia, Canada, China, and the United States.

It covers almost half of the South American Continent.

60% of the Amazon rainforest which is considered the lung of the earth lies in Brazil.

Capital: Brasilia 

Currency: Brazilian Real 

President: Jair Bolsonaro