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Judy: Brazil will have a new
president come January, and he
knows the job well.
Former two-term president Luiz
Inacio Lula da silva beat
the incumbent Jair bolsonaro by
two million votes in yesterday's
closely watched runoff election.
With producer Charles Lyons in
Rio, and in partnership with the
pulitzer center, special
correspondent Jane Ferguson
reports.
Jane: From the beaches of Rio de
Janeiro, to Sao Paulo's bustling
streets and all across Brazil,
the people have spoken.
Sitting president Jerry
bolsonaro is out.
He lost narrowly to Louise in
osseo Lula da silva, known as
Lula.
>> On this historic October 30,
the majority of Brazilians made
it very clear that they want
more and not less democracy.
That they want more and not less
social inclusion, and
opportunities for all.
Jane: The results mark an
astonishing comeback for Lula,
who was jailed in 2018 on
corruption charges that were
later overturned.
With just 2 million votes
separating the candidates, this
was the narrowest victory in
Brazil's 37-year-old democracy.
Flavia Barbosa is the executive
editor of leading Brazilian
newspaper O globo.
>> When we listen to president
elect Lula last night, what he
said was, I get the message from
the polls.
I hear what voters said, what
half of the voters have said.
But there are no two countries,
there are no two Brazil's, we
have just one and we have to
reconcile them.
Jane: This is the first time
ever an incumbent has failed to
win a second term.
Bolsonaro's supporters on the
streets of Rio Sunday night were
devastated.
>> A disaster.
Because we did not hope for
renovation.
We had a hope for the homeland,
family and renovation of values
that were long lost and were
rescued through bolsonaro.
I want justice to be served, the
war is not over.
We will be able to revert this
result.
Jane: Throughout his re-election
campaign, boslonaro accused the
voting system of corruption, and
undermined the result long
before anyone went to the polls.
Now many of his supporters do
not believe he lost.
>> If he says he lost, we will
accept it.
It depends on him though.
I do not think he's going to
-- going to do because he never
lost.
He is the great winner.
Jane: Lula supporters, gathered
in Sao Paulo Salvador square in
Rio last night, as the enormity
of Lula's remarkable comeback
sunk in, many people were
overwhelmed with emotion.
>> I believe the victory shows
the world that we are not dead.
We are alive.
Jane: Expectations amongst his
followers are very high.
>> I can buy more food in the
supermarket.
I believe the energy will be
easier to buy also, I buy the
-- believe the gas will be fine
to buy also.
I believe the gay people will be
free again.
I believe the black people will
be free again.
Jane: Given that Lula faces a
staunchly pro-bolsonaro congress
and declining global economic
conditions, these things will be
hard to deliver.
How realistic are the
expectations placed on Lula's
right now -- shoulders right
now?
Our Lula supporters in the long
run are going to be disappointed
by what they see in the coming
years?
>> It's possible.
As you mentioned, expectations
are too high.
And he will face many
constraints, both on political
and economic realms.
We do not have money enough to
cover everything that we need by
now.
Jane: To do that, Lula will have
to compromise, to work closely
with all parties, says Barbosa.
>> If he succeeds in bringing to
government this kind of alliance
from left to right, if he
succeeds in making a government
that reflects that, then I think
a Brazilian way of doing
politics can be regenerated and
be rescued.
Jane: Yet Brazil remains
dangerously divided.
The country's political
discourse blighted by vicious,
insult-riddled attacks,
supported with misinformation on
social media.
All of which are likely to be
used in the coming months before
Lula enters the palace on
January 1st.
The vote for a new president is
over, the next challenge is a
peaceful, democratic transfer of
power.
For the pbs newshour, I am Jane
Ferguson.