Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, admitted weaknesses in his own campaign and said ordinary supporters, not strategists, won him the 25 October runoff. He spoke in an online livestream with federal deputy André Janones, according to reports published on Sunday 8 November 2026.
The remarks matter for US readers because they show how the re-elected leader of Latin America’s largest economy reads his close win. Lula was re-elected with about 52% of valid votes to about 48% for Flávio Bolsonaro, a margin of roughly 4.4 million votes.
Key Facts
- What. Lula admitted campaign weaknesses and credited grassroots supporters and online platforms for his win.
- Expectation. He says he had expected to win in the first round on 4 October.
- Dispute. Reports say his Workers’ Party (PT) is divided over who deserves the credit.
- Result. Lula won the 25 October runoff with about 52% of valid votes against about 48%.
- Power Index. Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 74.2 points (November 2026 edition).
Lula says he had hoped to win in the first round, saw weak spirits at rallies and gives the credit for his comeback to ordinary supporters.
What Lula Said
Lula said his first expectation was a first-round victory, and that he saw a lack of motivation at public events. He questioned how well the campaign’s field operation worked, although he kept faith in a win in the runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro, a conservative senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
On blame and praise, Lula said defeats fall squarely on the candidate, while victories draw many people who claim a share. He gave the credit to grassroots supporters and online platforms rather than technical advisers.
The Row Inside the Left
His comments come as the PT, Lula’s Workers’ Party, is reported to be divided over who deserves the credit for the comeback. The party’s communication strategy had already drawn internal criticism after the first round.
That criticism also involved Sidônio Palmeira, the minister who heads the government’s Social Communication Secretariat. We could not find a full recording of the livestream.
The Vote in Brief
In the first round on 4 October, Flávio Bolsonaro led with about 47% against about 45% for Lula, according to the electoral court’s count. The runoff on 25 October reversed that order, and the court’s president, Kassio Nunes Marques, confirmed the result to both candidates.
Vote totals reported on election night varied slightly between counts, so we give rounded percentages. The electoral court (TSE) publishes the final figures on its results site.
What It Means for You
A president who credits grassroots mobilisation is signalling where he will look for support in a new term. Whether his camp stays united is an open question.
Related coverage: Brazil Court Probes Lula and Alckmin Ticket and Lula Will Create Brazil Security Ministry. Both explain what the new term may bring.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether the PT will act on the dispute over credit or whether Lula will reshape his communication team. The livestream itself was not available to us, so his words are as reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Lula admit?
He said his campaign had operational weaknesses and saw low motivation at events. He still credited grassroots supporters for the win.
How did Lula win the runoff?
He beat Flávio Bolsonaro on 25 October with about 52% of valid votes to about 48%. That is a lead of roughly 4.4 million votes.
Sources: Superior Electoral Court, TSE, official results of the 2026 election (resultados.tse.jus.br); public livestream of President Lula with federal deputy André Janones, 8 November 2026; Brazil’s Planalto Palace (gov.br/planalto).
In depth
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. How we use AI · Report an error
Brazil runoff, Sunday, October 25: When is the Brazil runoff election. Latest: Brazil runoff polls, Flávio 51%, Lula 49%.