Brazil's left-wing president Lula has won a fourth term, defeating conservative challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, according to Le Monde.fr. The result, reported on Monday, October 26, 2026, was described by Les Echos as an upset, and franceinfo confirmed Lula's victory over the conservative candidate.
Reaction from Europe came quickly. French President Emmanuel Macron called for joint work toward what he described as a fairer world, Le Monde.fr reports. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the outcome as the start of what he called a rise in global progressivism, according to the same outlet.
The contest is not settled, however. Les Echos reports that Bolsonaro is asking for the election to be annulled. The dispute over the result is the immediate open question hanging over the outcome.
The vote also moved markets. Zonebourse Suisse reported that shares in Pluxee and Edenred fell after Lula's victory in the presidential election, though the reporting summarized here does not explain the reason for the decline.
Coverage of the result led international bulletins, with RFI featuring Lula's fourth mandate as the top story in its review of the global press.
What to watch next: whether Bolsonaro's request to annul the vote gains any legal traction, and how the result shapes relations between Brazil and European governments.
