BRASILIA:  Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the second round of the presidential elections, defeating incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, clearing the way for his third four-year term to begin on January 1, 2023.

According to data made public by the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party received more than 58 million votes, or 49.11 percent, while Lula of the Workers' Party (PT) received more than 60 million votes, or 50.89 percent of the ballots cast on Sunday.

In Brazil's history, this is the narrowest margin ever in a second-round presidential election. Lula received 48.3% of the vote in the first round, which was conducted on October 2, compared to Bolsonaro's 43.2%.

The 77-year-old Lula was president from 2003 to 2010 and presided over two terms. The former president is making a comeback after being barred from running for politics in 2018 due to his incarceration. He had been convicted of accepting a bribe from a Brazilian construction company in exchange for contracts with Petrobras, the country's state-owned oil giant.

Before his conviction was overturned and he was allowed to leave prison after 580 days, Lula engaged in politics again. His support was strong in this year's presidential elections, especially from the poor northeastern region of Brazil. 

He centred his campaign on social concerns, promising to fight hunger and poverty, boost state-owned businesses, and raise the minimum wage. In an open letter this week, Lula stated, "The first steps of our government will be to release 33 million people from hunger and more than 100 million Brazilians from poverty."

He declared that it is feasible to combine fiscal responsibility, social responsibility, and sustainable development, and that is what we are going to achieve, following the tendencies of the world's major economies. He then proposed an economic strategy that combines both public and private initiatives.

With an industrial policy that "will foster innovation, boost public-private cooperation, strengthen research and technology, and ensure access to financing at reasonable costs, we will begin the digital transition." In addition, Lula promised to advance regional integration, foster "fairer and more democratic ties between countries," and increase trade and technological collaboration between Brazil and other nations.

In contrast, Lula promised to lead Brazil for all Brazilians, not just those who supported him, in his victory speech on Sunday.  

"This nation needs harmony and tranquilly. This populace no longer desires to engage in combat, "He was said to have said. Bolsonaro, however, has not yet given in.

He had declared the following the day before the runoff: "Not the least doubt exists. Whoever receives the most votes wins (the election). Democracy is all about that."

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