Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Thursday that he will seek re-election in 2026, formally confirming his plan to run for a fourth presidential term.
Speaking during a state visit to Indonesia alongside President Prabowo Subianto, Lula said he remained driven and physically ready to campaign again despite turning 80 next year.
“I’ll be 80, but I have the same energy I had at 30,” Lula said. “I will run for a fourth term in Brazil.”
Lula, a leftist leader and founding member of Brazil’s Workers’ Party (PT), is serving his third term in office after returning to power in January 2023. His declaration marks the clearest sign yet that he intends to remain at the centre of Brazilian politics beyond 2026.
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His current mandate ends in late 2026, meaning the campaign season could begin soon. Lula had hinted earlier this year that he was open to re-election but had previously stopped short of confirming his candidacy.
If successful, Lula would become one of Brazil’s longest-serving leaders, having already governed from 2003 to 2010 before winning again in 2022.
It remains uncertain who will emerge as Lula’s main challenger. His long-time political rival Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to him by a narrow margin in 2022 , is currently barred from running for public office following a 2023 electoral court ruling.
Bolsonaro was also sentenced to 27 years in prison earlier this year for his alleged role in an attempted coup following the 2022 election results. He denies wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal, insisting he will run again once cleared.
Lula made the announcement while on an Asian tour aimed at strengthening trade and diplomatic ties with Indonesia and other nations. His government continues to face pressure at home over economic growth, Amazon deforestation, and inflation concerns, even as he maintains broad support among working-class voters.
During his previous administrations, Lula oversaw a period of rapid economic expansion and major social welfare programmes, though his political career was later marred by corruption allegations that led to a prison sentence in 2018, which was later annulled by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
