U.S. Embassy in Brasília Highlighted Lula's 'Definitive' Victory in Report - 30/10/2026 - World - Folha de S.Paulo

The U.S. Embassy in Brasília sent a report to U.S. government agencies, including the State Department, describing Lula's (PT) victory in Sunday's (25) election as "definitive" and "surprising." The document, sent on Monday (26), states that voting was largely peaceful, despite public transportation disruptions and difficulties accessing polling stations in the Northeast and South. Lula defeated Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) by approximately 4.4 million votes.

According to the report, the two-hour extension of voting hours, ordered by Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin and cited by Flávio to challenge his defeat, had minimal impact: the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) reported that only 34,000 votes, approximately 0.03% of the total, were recorded after 5 p.m. Observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) said they had "no doubt about the results," although they considered the internal communication of the election organizers unsatisfactory.

The embassy notes that Flávio pledged to challenge the result, which he described as "impossible to accept," and that members of the PL fear a political crisis.

The assessment contrasts with that of Donald Trump, who on Thursday (29) again called the election a "disgrace," although he said he would speak with Lula. The U.S. government has yet to send a formal message of congratulations. Flávio arrived in Miami on Wednesday (28), and the State Department confirmed that visas had been granted to him and his family members.