He highlights massive political demonstrations during the runoff campaign and warns of isolated incidents of political violence.
On Sunday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking reelection, voted in Sao Paulo in the presidential runoff, in which he is competing against far-right Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro.
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“I am going to vote grateful to the Brazilian people. What the people have done for me in these days is so much that there is no way to repay it. It is so much generosity, so much affection and so much love. I will be eternally grateful for the people’s behavior,” he said minutes earlier as he left his home for the polling station.
At 10 a.m. local time, the Workers’ Party leader voted at João Firmino Correia de Araujo School in Sao Bernardo do Campo, a municipality bordering Sao Paulo where he rose to prominence as a union leader in the 1970s and began his political career.
After voting, Lula, who is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, highlighted the largest political demonstrations in Brazil in the past 50 years during the runoff campaign.
Mais uma vez, foi o povo brasileiro que me mostrou que nenhum sonho é grande demais quando a gente caminha junto. ❤️🇧🇷
Foram dias incansáveis. Cada caminhada, cada ato e cada passeata foram muito mais do que momentos de campanha. Foram encontros de sonhos que se transformaram em… pic.twitter.com/YdgeTlMzBK
— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 25, 2026
President Lula da Silva’s text reads, “Once again, it was the Brazilian people who showed me that no dream is too big when we walk together. These were tireless days.
Every walk, every event, and every demonstration was much more than just a campaign moment. They were gatherings of dreams that transformed into concrete achievements—such as the end of the 6×1 work schedule.
Every outstretched hand and every smile reminded me why I have dedicated my life to the struggle for the working men and women of this country. We emerge from this journey stronger, more united, and more mobilized to secure a better future.
Thank you, Brazil, for every hug, every tear, every smile, and for never letting go of my hand. There are still many beautiful pages left to be written in our history. Tomorrow, October 25th, we will write another one. Together, for the Brazil we love and for the future our people deserve!“
“What I saw in this runoff was not about a political party or a union. The people took to the streets to defend their achievements,” the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate told reporters after casting his ballot.
The president also warned of isolated incidents of political violence reported in recent hours, including a brick thrown at a PT activist in the city of Montes Claros.
“This is a demonstration of what is at stake,” the progressive leader emphasized and criticized Bolsonaro, referring to him as “a militiaman” and a “morally and ethically unqualified person.”
Lula also said that on Sunday, voters would decide whether the Brazilian flag would be respected or whether to elect a political group that “wants to govern with the American flag.”
Lula, aos 33 anos, liderando junto ao sindicato dos metalúrgicos a greve que desafiou a ditadura militar no Brasil. Ele conquistou aumentos salariais e foi preso. Enquanto isso, a única profissão do Flávio foi ser vag4bundo político. #AposentadosComLula pic.twitter.com/34dsHpqtai
— Taty⭐️🚩 (@tatyestoyaqui) October 24, 2026
The text reads, “At the age of 33, Lula led the metalworkers’ union in a strike that challenged Brazil’s military dictatorship. He secured wage increases and was subsequently imprisoned. Meanwhile, Flavio’s only profession has been that of a political deadbeat.”
The Brazilian president, who will turn 81 next Tuesday, went to vote wearing a white guayabera shirt, accompanied by his wife, Rosangela Lula da Silva; Vice President Geraldo Alckmin; and five other current and former Cabinet ministers.
In the first round, held Oct. 4, Bolsonaro received the most votes, with 47% of the ballots, compared with 45% for Lula. Polling stations will close at 5 p.m., after which vote counting will begin.
The count is expected to be completed within a few hours thanks to Brazil’s electronic voting system, which was introduced three decades ago.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE
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