Lula da Silva Wins Brazilian Run-Off Election
November 6 , 2006
Follow up to "Allegations of Corruption Lead to Brazilian Presidential Runoff" on October 2

The Associated Press reports that incumbent Brazilian President Lula da Silva has been re-elected with 61% of the vote in the run-off election with challenger Geraldo Alckmin.  The second round of the elections came after da Silva failed to receive over 50% of the vote in round one.  A Miami Herald report suggests that the failure for an outright victory in the first round by da Silva was a result of a “failed smear campaign” against his opponents by “members of his party and campaign.”

ABC News says the election “offered no widely different political visions,” and that both candidates ran on a platform of economic stability and social assistance.  Despite the similarities, da Silva “pained his opponent as a heartless bureaucrat who would slash welfare programs,” and Alckmin claimed that “the president used aid programs to buy the votes of the poor,” according to the Miami Herald.  The same story quotes a “working class accountant” as stating “he’s (da Silva) with the poor, while Alckmin is with the elites.” 

The social programs of da Silva caused “the number of people in extreme poverty” to fall to 19% during his presidency, transferring “billions of dollars in welfare aid to Brazil’s poorest,” reports the Miami Herald.  Voters also explained the exposed corruption in da Silva’s presidency as a result of his policies, with one supporter crediting the President with “giving federal investigators free rein to weed out corruption,” insisting that it has always existed and its recent exposure is due to “Lula’s government looking into it.” 

The elections have been called “one of the most peaceful since the return of democracy (to Brazil),” according to BBC News.  President da Silva does not want the elections to result in political polarization despite his newfound mandate, pledging to build coalitions in Congress claiming that “no one will be turned away.”  Aecio Neves a “rising star in Alckmin’s party” affirmed his commitment to working with da Silva’s government saying “there is a time for elections and a time to build”, and that he was “ready to work with Lula,” according to ABC News. 

President da Silva’s second term expires in 2010, and he is not constitutionally permitted to run for re-election again, but if his second mandate is a success, he “will be in a powerful position to influence the outcome,” according to BBC News.

Sources:

ABC News: Brazil's Lula gains momentum heading into 2nd term
Arizona Daily Star (Associated Press): Incumbent Silva wins Brazil vote in landslide
BBC News: Brazil press looks to future
Miami Herald: Brazilians Reelect Lula da Silva