Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, or simply Lula , has made an impressive political comeback, securing a fourth term as Brazil’s president. The vote split between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro highlights a sharply divided nation, suggesting that the right’s defeat does not mean a weakening of right-wing politics. Most importantly, the results offer a stark lesson in the limits of electoral success and political reversal. Lula won 51.8 per cent of the valid votes against his opponent’s 48.2 per cent, not only beating him but also reversing a first-round defeat to claim an unprecedented fourth term.

Three connected reasons explain Lula’s victory: The enduring draw of redistributive politics, the ability to mobilise a broad democratic constituency, and the resilience of a leader whose personal standing outweighs his party’s institutional strength. Lula has long been linked to reducing poverty and opening opportunities for those in Brazil left behind, which has driven his appeal.…