Bolsonaro allies recognize Lula's victory despite election challenge

Several Brazilian political parties and figures that backed Flavio Bolsonaro in Sunday's presidential runoff have recognized incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's reelection, distancing themselves from Bolsonaro's bid to annul the vote.

Lula received 51.79% of valid votes in the runoff, against 48.21% for Bolsonaro, according to results released by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on Sunday night.

On Sunday night, Bolsonaro announced that he would seek to have the election annulled after Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting by two hours following reports of transportation problems and heavy rains that affected voters in some cities.

Despite Bolsonaro's challenge, the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), Uniao Brasil and Republicanos president Marcos Pereira congratulated Lula on his victory.

Pereira called for respect for political differences and dialogue with Congress, saying the new term carried a responsibility to govern for all Brazilians, including those who voted for Bolsonaro.

MDB, chaired by re-elected Congressman Baleia Rossi, also recognized the result. In a post on X, the party said Sunday that Lula was democratically re-elected in accordance with the country's 1988 Constitution and described the result as an expression of the sovereign will of the people.

Uniao Brasil, which backed Bolsonaro in the runoff, said Monday that the will of the people, freely expressed at the ballot box, must be respected.

The Progressive Party (PP), which also supported Bolsonaro, had not issued an official statement as of Monday morning. However, Senator-elect Arthur Lira, a PP member and former speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, acknowledged the election result and called for dialogue and responsibility.