Brazilian politics is a soap opera that never runs out of plot twists: bitter rivalries, corruption scandals and colorful characters who keep rewriting the script. But Lula da Silva’s comeback was remarkable even by Brazilian standards. It brought an end to a dramatic cliffhanger, where the veteran left-winger won a fourth term as Brazil’s president.

Just three weeks ago, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva looked vulnerable. His rival Flávio Bolsonaro had beaten him in the first round, raising the prospect of a right-wing turn in South America’s largest country. Brazil looked set for a shift towards tougher security measures, tax cuts and closer ties with Donald Trump’s administration.

The challenge echoes Jair Bolsonaro’s response to defeat in 2022, when he also questioned the result after losing to Lula

The challenge echoes Jair Bolsonaro’s response to defeat in 2022, when he also questioned the result after losing to Lula

In the three weeks between rounds, Lula’s campaign sought to to turn the result around, mobilizing supporters at rallies and on social media. But even with the ramped up campaigning, the result was extraordinary. He won 51.79 percent of the vote against 48.21 percent for Bolsonaro – a margin of more than 4.4 million votes.

It is the first time since Brazil returned to democracy in 1989 that a candidate who finished second in the first round has gone on to win the runoff. For Lula, who turns 81 this week, it is quite some birthday present.

Aside from a result that defied predictions, election night itself brought its own share of drama. A last-minute decision to........

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