Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected on Sunday 25 October for a fourth term, defeating the far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who had nevertheless come out on top in the first round. Lula defied the odds thanks to a high turnout, particularly in the country’s remote regions, and a late but effective social media campaign strategy. His victory thus helps to curb the dangerous ‘Trumpisation’ of the South American continent and has been hailed by many world leaders. However, he will have to contend with a Parliament dominated by the conservative right following the parliamentary elections in October.

Flávio Bolsonaro, who initially contested the results, just as his father had done before him, eventually conceded defeat. Facing legal proceedings over corruption allegations and ordered to hand over his passport to the authorities, he left the country the very next day for Ecuador, and may now travel to the United States, where his supporter Donald Trump has promised him a visa.