Could a fourth Lula presidency redefine Brazil’s leadership role in the Global South?: Video
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially announced his intention to run for the 2026 general elections, seeking a fourth term in office.
The declaration was made during a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, not Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta on Thursday, October 23.
“I’m about to turn 80, but you can be sure that I have the same energy as when I was 30 years old,” Lula said. “I’m going to fight. I’m running for a fourth term in Brazil. I’m prepared to run in other elections and try to make the relationship between Indonesia and Brazil a partnership.”
Lula, who returned to power in 2023 for his third nonconsecutive term, remains constitutionally eligible to run again since Brazil’s two-term limit applies only to consecutive presidencies.
During the press conference, the Brazilian leader also reiterated his support for a multipolar global order, stressing the need for “multilateralism, not unilateralism” in both politics and economics. He pointed to the BRICS bloc — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — as a key platform for advancing “the development interests of the global South.”
Lula’s announcement comes amid efforts to strengthen cooperation between Brazil and Indonesia, particularly in trade, renewable energy, and environmental protection.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
