Lula declares victory in Brazil's presidential runoff; Flavio Bolsonaro refuses to concede

BRASILIA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, candidate of the ruling Workers' Party, won Sunday's presidential runoff, according to results released by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on Sunday night.

With 99.99 percent of the votes counted, Lula received 51.79 percent of the valid votes, compared with 48.21 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party's presidential candidate and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, according to the official tally.

Lula will be sworn in on Jan. 5, 2027, for a four-year term, marking his fourth election as Brazil's president.

Speaking in a live speech in Sao Paulo following his victory, Lula vowed to work with the conservative Congress elected by the people and ensure greater public participation in the decision-making process.

He also stressed the need to strengthen digital regulation after defeating foreign interference through digital platforms, stressing that Brazil is no one's backyard.

Meanwhile, Flavio Bolsonaro, speaking in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, said it is "impossible" to recognize the results, and called for the annulment of the election.

Brazil's presidential election follows a two-round majoritarian system. To win in the first round, held on Oct. 4, a candidate must secure more than half of the valid votes. Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of incumbent Lula, winning about 47 percent of the valid votes against Lula's roughly 45 percent. As neither candidate crossed the 50-percent threshold, the two advanced to a runoff, which Lula won.