Anti-Israel Lula Defeats Pro-Israel Bolsonaro To Win Record Fourth Term As Brazil’s President • Jewish Breaking News

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a record fourth presidential term, defeating pro-Israel challenger Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in Sunday’s runoff, Brazil’s electoral authority announced.

With the outcome mathematically decided, Lula held 51.75% of the vote against Bolsonaro’s 48.25%, reversing his second-place finish in the first round.

Stay informed with JBN email alerts! Get the latest updates on breaking stories, global events, and community news directly in your inbox.

The candidates offered sharply different approaches to Israel.

Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, openly supported Israel and pledged to move Brazil’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. During a January visit, he toured the Western Wall and communities in Judea and Samaria.

Lula has been fiercely critical of Israel, accusing it of genocide in Gaza and comparing its military campaign to Hitler’s persecution of Jews. Those remarks triggered a diplomatic confrontation, during which Brazil recalled its ambassador.

How Did Lula Reverse The First-Round Result?

Brazil requires presidential candidates to win more than half of valid votes. If nobody reaches that threshold, the top two advance to a separate runoff. First-round votes do not carry over.

That gives the trailing candidate an opportunity to attract supporters of eliminated candidates and mobilize people who previously stayed home.

More than 33 million Brazilians skipped the first round. Lula’s campaign targeted those nonvoters and shifted its messaging toward economic frustrations as it worked to close the gap.

The turnaround therefore does not necessarily mean millions of Bolsonaro voters switched sides. Support from other candidates’ voters, stronger turnout among Lula supporters and some voters changing their preference could together reverse the result. Detailed analysis is needed to determine how much each factor contributed.

Lula previously governed from 2003 through 2010 before returning to office in 2023. His latest victory extends his presidency and defeats a challenger who had promised closer ties with Israel.