Lula secures fourth term after dramatic runoff win in Brazil

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a fourth term in office, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a dramatic comeback election.

Lula won 51.79% of the vote, making him the first president since Brazil's return to civilian rule in 1985 to win after losing the first round of voting.

Addressing supporters after the result, Lula described his win as a defeat for negativity and dishonesty, and voiced support for democratic values.

Flávio Bolsonaro, son of convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, has not accepted the outcome and is calling for the result to be overturned. Several world leaders have sent Lula congratulations on his re-election.

Observers say Bolsonaro's refusal to concede mirrors the reaction of his father in a previous election. However, any formal challenge is seen as unlikely to succeed.

The dispute appears to focus on a decision by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin to extend voting hours nationwide by two hours. Some Bolsonaro supporters have accused Zanin of bias due to his past work as Lula's lawyer.

Both campaigns had in fact requested extended voting times. Lula's team cited a shortage of buses affecting voters in São Paulo and Bahia, while Bolsonaro's campaign pointed to heavy rainfall in southern regions and São Paulo as justification for the extension.