The Liberal Party (PL) of Brazil acknowledged on Monday the results of the presidential runoff that resulted in the reelection of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in an official statement signed by the national president of the party, Valdemar Costa Neto, and shared on social media, reported the EFE agency.
Recognition comes one day after the presidential candidate of the party, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, refused to accept the result. The day before the runoff, Bolsonaro had stated that it was "impossible to recognize the election results in the context in which they occurred" and announced that he would seek a judicial annulment of the elections.
The central argument made by Flávio Bolsonaro was the extension of voting hours by two hours, ordered by Supreme Court Judge Cristiano Zanin due to electoral transportation issues. However, during that additional period, only 35,521 votes were recorded, amounting to 0.8% of the more than 4.43 million votes that separated the two candidates. Analysts cited by Reuters considered it unlikely that the request for annulment would succeed, and according to consulted sources, Bolsonaro later abandoned his plans for contestation.
The PL's statement, however, avoided mentioning Lula's name and did not include any congratulations to the reelected president. The note also revealed that the party initially published a text acknowledging "the significance of the outcome" without explicitly naming him, but it deleted that version and replaced it with a second version that did recognize the result "proclaimed by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE)."
"We acknowledge the presidential result, proclaimed by the Superior Electoral Tribunal, but we believe that the questions raised must be properly addressed within a balanced and democratic political debate," wrote Costa Neto in the official note published on Instagram.
The recognition of the PL is particularly significant given the contrast with what occurred in 2022, when, following Jair Bolsonaro's defeat by Lula, the party did not clearly acknowledge the results and contributed to the atmosphere that led to the riots on January 8, 2023, in Brasilia.
In the second round on October 25, Lula staged a historic comeback by securing 64,256,232 votes (51.79%) against Flávio Bolsonaro's 59,826,041 votes (48.21%). He had finished second in the first round on October 4, receiving 45.16% compared to the ultraright candidate's 47.03%. Thus, Lula became the first candidate since the return of Brazilian democracy to lose the first round and win the runoff election.
The victory grants Lula a fourth non-consecutive presidential term, scheduled to begin on January 5, 2027.
The PL took the opportunity to emphasize its parliamentary power: 121 federal deputies —the largest caucus elected in 40 years, holding 23.6% of the Chamber—, 29 senators, 229 state and district deputies, and six governors, making it the main opposition actor to the upcoming government. Trump, for his part, questioned the Brazilian elections and referred to them as "another rigged election," without presenting any evidence.
"The PL will remain steadfast, acting with independence and responsibility in defense of democracy, freedom, and the values we represent. Our commitment is to Brazil and to the millions of Brazilians who trust in our work," concluded Costa Neto in the statement.
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