Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva outlasted current president Jair Bolsonaro in the second round of Brazil’s presidential election. Out of the 118 million votes cast in the second round, Lula secured 50.9 percent of the vote while Bolsonaro received 49.1 percent. 

Bolsonaro has yet to concede despite The Supreme Electoral Court officially declaring Lula the winner. Lula will be inaugurated on Jan. 1 barring any intervention.

In his victory speech, Lula emphasized unity and the possibility of peace following a tumultuous election cycle. “This population doesn’t want to fight anymore,” stated Lula. This came at a contrast with Bolsonaro’s aggressive rhetoric that led some to assume he would fight the election results if he were to lose. However, a day before the second round, Bolsonaro was interviewed saying “there is not the slightest doubt. Whoever has more votes, takes it [the election]. That’s what democracy is about.” 

Despite Lula’s victory, he does not have an overwhelming mandate coming into office. In addition to the narrow margin of victory in the presidential election, he was not able to secure a majority in the national congress back in early October. This could put a damper on what he can accomplish and lessen the possibility of the “unity” he campaigned on. 

For the time being, the world’s fourth largest democracy has completed one of its most critical election cycles in recent memory, and Lula will be tasked with reigning in a relative state of peace to a country that has become a “global pariah” in the eyes of Lula voters.