Lula Wins Brazil Runoff 51.79% After Extended Voting

Lula clinched Brazil's runoff with 51.79% after a judge added two extra voting hours. The margin over far-right rival Flávio Bolsonaro was just 3.58 percentage points. It flipped a first-round loss, a first in Brazil's electoral history. Lula's win secures his fourth term, making him the nation's longest-serving president. At 81, he now faces a hostile Congress packed with Bolsonaro allies. Brazil's economy is bleak, with soaring debt and deep structural problems looming. Bolsonaro's son, also named Flávio, rejected the result, calling it "sacanagem" or "bullshit". The Guardian notes the right's shift isn't irreversible but still wields strong regional influence. Lula must now balance a divided nation while plotting a credible successor.