Lula da Silva re-elected as Brazil's president as supporters celebrate in Sao Paulo

Supporters of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took to the streets of Sao Paulo on Sunday night to celebrate his re-election as president of Brazil. Crowds waving national flags filled Paulista Avenue, where the president-elect delivered a public speech.

According to results released by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, Lula, the candidate of the ruling Workers' Party, received 51.79 percent of the valid votes in Sunday's presidential runoff. His rival, Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, received 48.23 percent.

"I'm from the East Zone of Sao Paulo. I'm here to celebrate the victory of our president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva," said Daniel, a Lula supporter. Christiane, a university professor who campaigned for Lula during the second round, said she was deeply moved by the result. She said she had worked every day to support his re-election and that many people had fought together for the victory.

In his speech, Lula pledged to work with the conservative Congress elected by the people and to expand public participation in government decision-making. He also called for stronger regulation of digital platforms, saying Brazil was no one's backyard.

His other stated priorities included strengthening public healthcare, improving care for older people, respecting women's rights and continuing efforts to combat climate change.

Speaking in the capital, Brasilia, Flavio Bolsonaro said it was "impossible" to recognize the results and called for the election to be annulled. He alleged that extending voting hours at some polling stations had resulted in unequal treatment of voters and said his legal team would challenge the outcome.

Earlier on Sunday, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court ordered polling stations nationwide to extend voting by two hours in response to disruptions caused by public transport stoppages and heavy rain. The measure applied only to stations that were still open when the Superior Electoral Court communicated the decision. Stations that had already closed were not reopened.

Under Brazil's electoral rules, if no candidate receives more than half of the valid votes in the first round, the two leading candidates advance to a runoff. In the first round, held on Oct. 4, Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of Lula, receiving about 47 percent of the valid votes compared with roughly 45 percent for the incumbent.

Leaders from several Latin American countries congratulated Lula on his victory. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the result as a victory for the Brazilian people and democracy, while Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi praised the electoral process as a celebration of democracy.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called for stronger regional integration. Paraguayan President Santiago Pena highlighted cooperation with Brazil to promote regional integration and development, while Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz referred to the countries' shared history and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino also congratulated Lula and expressed his commitment to continued cooperation.

According to CCTV+, Lula's re-election prompted celebrations in Sao Paulo and congratulations from leaders across Latin America.