Lula da Silva is the elected president of Brazil after beating Bolsonaro narrowly in the second round

Analysis of the second electoral round in Brazil 6:20

(CNN Spanish) --

Former leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 77, is the elected president of Brazil after winning the second round of the presidential elections this Sunday.

With 99% counted, Lula — the long-time leader of the Workers' Party — obtained 50.85% of the vote, securing victory over his far-right opponent, Jair Bolsonaro, who fell behind by just over a point and a half. with 49.15%, according to the Superior Electoral Court of Brazil (TSE).

• ANALYSIS |

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Lula prevailed in the first round with 48.3%, while Bolsonaro obtained 43.2%, but neither Lula nor Bolsonaro obtained more than 50% of the votes on October 2, which forced the second round. of this Sunday.

More than 156 million people were eligible to vote in the second round of the presidential elections.

Polls opened at 7 am and closed at 4 pm (Miami time) in Brazil's capital Brasilia, with the country's electronic voting system confirming the results just over two hours after voting concluded.

Both candidates voted early on Sunday.

Lula voted in a public school in the São Paulo metropolitan area and Bolsonaro cast his vote in Rio de Janeiro.

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Wearing a yellow and green jersey, the colors of the Brazilian flag, Bolsonaro said: “God willing, we will be victorious later today.

Or, better yet, Brazil will emerge victorious,” after voting at a polling station in the city's Marechal Hermes neighborhood.

Supporters of Lula da Silva packed São Paulo's Avenida Paulista on Sunday night after the polls closed.

The atmosphere was celebratory even before the results were announced, with street vendors selling beer and food.

Tensions before the vote

The election came amid a tense and polarized political climate in Brazil.

Currently, the country faces high inflation, limited growth and growing poverty.

Both candidates had used this election to attack each other throughout, and the mounting anger overshadowed the polls and clashes between their supporters left many voters fearful of what is to come.

Voters in Sao Paulo told CNN they were eager to get this election season over with as soon as possible so the country can move on.

While there were no reports of political violence on Sunday, allies of Lula da Silva accused police of blocking buses and cars carrying Lula voters from reaching the polls.

However, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), which runs Brazil's elections, noted that no one had been prevented from voting and refused to extend voting hours, Reuters reported.

The Federal Highway Police said it had complied with court orders, it added.

Aerial view of supporters of former Brazilian president (2003-2010) and candidate of the leftist Workers' Party (PT) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrating their candidate's victory during the second round of the presidential elections on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo , Brazil, on October 30, 2022. Credit: MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP via Getty Images

Brazil's presidential contest was marked by debate over gun ownership, as both candidates courted evangelical Christians, estimated to make up more than 30 percent of the Latin American country's population.

"Viva Lula", leaders from around the world react to the triumph of the former union leader

"Lula won, blessed people of Brazil. There will be equality and humanism," wrote the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on his official Twitter account after learning of Lula's victory.

Other Latin American leaders such as the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, congratulated da Silva for his victory in the second round of the country's presidential elections: "Congratulations @LulaOficial! Your victory opens a new era in the history of Latin America. A time of hope and future that begins today," wrote the Argentine president on Twitter.

While the one from Colombia, Gustavo Petro, tweeted: "Viva Lula".

"Lula. Joy!" Said, for his part, the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric.

"Congratulations brother @LulaOficial, president-elect of #Brazil! Your victory strengthens democracy and Latin American integration. We are sure that you will lead the Brazilian people along the path of peace, progress and social justice. Jallalla Brasil", he wrote Luis Arce, President of Bolivia.

The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz Canel, applauded Lula's return to power: "#Cuba congratulates you, dear colleague. They delayed your victory with atrocious methods, but they could not prevent you from winning with the people's vote. Come back @LulaOficial, come back the @ptbrasil, social justice will return".

"Long live the peoples determined to be free, sovereign and independent! Today democracy triumphed in Brazil. Congratulations Lula! A Big Hug!" Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, wrote on Twitter.

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, congratulated Lula and described the elections in Brazil as “free, fair and credible”.

Through a statement, Biden said that he looks forward to "working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years to come."

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said that "I am looking forward to working with

@LulaOficial to strengthen the partnership between our countries, generate results for Canadians and Brazilians and promote shared priorities, such as the protection of the environment Congratulations, Lula!"

European leaders also joined in the congratulations after Lula won the Brazilian presidency.

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, tweeted: "Congratulations, @LulaOficial, for your victory in these elections in which Brazil has decided to bet on progress and hope. Let's work together for social justice, equality and against change." climate. Your successes will be those of the Brazilian people. Parabéns, Lula!"

Meanwhile, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, also sent his congratulations to Lula in a tweet where he said that "together, we will join forces to face the many common challenges and renew the bond of friendship between our two countries."

With Lula's victory, the left returns to Brazil

What are the decisive votes in the Brazilian elections?

3:11

Lula da Silva served two terms as president, from 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011, in which he led the country through a commodity boom that helped finance huge social welfare programs and lifted millions of people out of poverty. poverty.

He left office with a 90% approval rating, a record clouded by Brazil's largest corruption investigation, dubbed "Operation Lava Jato," which led to charges against hundreds of high-ranking politicians and businessmen across Latin America.

He was convicted of corruption and money laundering in 2017, but a court threw out his conviction in March 2021, paving the way for his political resurgence.

Bolsonaro ran for president in 2018 with the conservative Liberal Party, campaigning as a political and anti-corruption candidate, and earning the nickname "Trump of the tropics."

Bolsonaro, a divisive figure, has become known for his bombastic statements and his conservative agenda, which has the support of important evangelical leaders in the country.

However, poverty grew during his presidency, and his popularity levels were affected by his handling of the pandemic, which he dismissed as the "little flu", before the virus killed more than 680,000 people in the country.

The Bolsonaro government was also characterized by its support for the ruthless exploitation of the land in the Amazon, which has led to record numbers of deforestation.

Environmentalists warned that the future of the rainforest would be at stake in this election.

Camilo Rocha, Vasco Cotovio, Tara John, Rodrigo Pedrosa, Duarte Mendonca, and Julia Vargas Jones contributed to this report.