Trump Critic Lula Wins Reelection in Brazil

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a vocal critic of President Trump, was reelected Sunday in a result that keeps some distance between Latin America's biggest economy and Washington, per the AP. With 100% of the vote counted, Brazil's electoral court announced that the soon-to-be 81-year-old Lula held an unassailable lead. The announcement capped an evening of chaos at polling places across Brazil, following a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours. That decision by a Supreme Court justice may trigger legal action by opponent Flávio Bolsonaro.

Lula's victory, if confirmed by electoral authorities, will give him his non-consecutive fourth term as president. The next term begins on Jan. 5, 2027. It would also buck a trend in Latin America where increasing numbers of right-of-center presidential candidates allied with Trump have been winning, further extending the United States' influence in the region. The win leaves Mexico and Brazil, Latin America's two most populous nations, with left-of-center leaders. It also positions Latin America's largest economy, with a GDP of $2.6 trillion per year, to remain independent of the US, despite the pressure of increased tariffs imposed by Trump.