Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
Lula takes responsibility for first-round election result
Brazilian President Lula accepted responsibility for the election's first-round result.
He said he could not blame anyone else.
The remarks also addressed public disapproval, according to the headline.
The available details do not say what the first-round result was or explain the reasons for it.
They also do not describe any next steps.
Lula's comments make clear that he is taking responsibility for the outcome.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he takes responsibility for the first-round election result and his government’s public evaluation.
He said he could not blame anyone else if Brazilian society had not understood his government’s work.
In the first round, Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03% of valid votes and Lula received 45.16%.
The two candidates are due to compete in a runoff on October 25.
A Datafolha poll published October 15 put Flávio at 51% and Lula at 49% of valid votes, within the poll’s two-point margin of error.
- Who
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he takes responsibility. His runoff opponent is Flávio Bolsonaro.
- What
- Lula accepted responsibility for the first-round result and his government’s evaluation.
- When
- Lula made the remarks on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- During an interview conducted by TV Globo.
- Why
- He said he could not blame anyone else if society had not understood his government’s work.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Flávio Bolsonaro
Economic policy
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Lula proposes maintaining the fiscal framework while combining balanced accounts with economic growth and tax fairness.
Flávio Bolsonaro
Flávio proposes reviewing fiscal and tax rules.
Social and labor policy
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Lula supports expanding social programs and ending the 6x1 work schedule without cutting pay.
Flávio Bolsonaro
Flávio supports greater flexibility in labor relations.
Security and institutions
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Lula prioritizes intelligence, coordination among police forces and action against organized crime financing.
Flávio Bolsonaro
Flávio supports tougher criminal laws and changes to the Supreme Federal Court’s powers.
Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03% of valid votes and Lula received 45.16%.
Lula said he takes responsibility for the election result and his government’s evaluation.
Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro are scheduled to face each other in the runoff.
- First-round result
- Flávio Bolsonaro: 47.03% of valid votes; Lula: 45.16%
- Runoff date
- October 25, 2026
- Datafolha poll
- Flávio: 51%; Lula: 49% of valid votes
- Poll margin of error
- Two percentage points
- Government approval
- 49% approved; 50% disapproved of Lula’s administration according to Datafolha
3 sources
What people are saying
Everything is my responsibility. I am the government. If I could not make Brazilian society understand the government I ran, I cannot go around blaming anyone. I have to blame myself.
I cannot blame anyone.