Former Brazilian President Luiz ‘Lula’ da Silva defeated incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro in the country’s presidential elections, glamsquad reports.
In the hotly contested election, Lula, as he is popularly known, received 50.9 percent of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 49.1 percent, shifting Brazil’s political landscape from right to left.
On Sunday, October 30, Lula was declared the winner. The outcome is even more remarkable given that he was imprisoned and barred from running for office in 2018 after being found guilty of accepting a bribe from a Brazilian construction firm in exchange for contracts with the country’s oil company.
Da Silva was imprisoned for 580 days before his conviction was overturned and he returned to politics.
In his victory speech, he said, “They tried to bury me alive, and here I am.”
World leaders have congratulated the 77-year-old politician on social media.
“I congratulate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his election as Brazil’s next president following free, fair, and credible elections,” US Vice President Joe Biden said.
“I look forward to working with you to expand our bilateral cooperation in the coming months and years.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted:
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“The Brazilian people have spoken. I’m excited to work with @LulaOficial to strengthen our bilateral relationship, deliver results for Canadians and Brazilians, and advance shared priorities such as environmental protection. Lula, congratulations!”
Following the announcement of the results, Bolsonaro has yet to concede defeat or make any public statements.