Brazil Vote: Embassy Move Stalls as Lula Takes 51.79%

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva captured 51.79% of valid votes in Brazil's presidential runoff on Oct. 25, defeating center-right senator Flavio Bolsonaro's 48.21%. The Workers Party leader's second term blocks Bolsonaro's pledge to move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem and restore a close partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bolsonaro told Jewish leaders in Buenos Aires on June 28, 2026 that Brazil would appoint an ambassador to Israel in 2027 and then relocate the embassy to Jerusalem. He also cited 120,000 Jews in Brazil, calling them 'men and women who rank among the brightest in Brazilian medicine, industry, science, culture and business.' Bolsonaro said he did not accept the Oct. 25 results, though the source did not identify a legal route to challenge them.

Lula's government endorsed South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in January 2024. A month later he compared Palestinian suffering in Gaza to Hitler's murder of the Jews, which drew criticism from CONIB, Brazil's Jewish umbrella organization, and from the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires.

Netanyahu posted on X after Bolsonaro led the Oct. 4 first round: 'Congratulations @FlavioBolsonaro on yesterday's vote and good luck in the final. I look forward to restoring the extraordinary friendship between Israel and Brazil.'

Argentina's Javier Milei, elected in 2023, has made backing Israel central to his foreign policy. Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz Pereira, elected in 2025, restored ties his predecessor cut. Honduras's Nasry Asfura, also elected in 2025, recognized Israel's ambassador. Chile's Jose Antonio Kast, elected in 2025, is rebuilding relations. Colombia's Abelardo de la Espriella, elected in May 2026, restored diplomatic ties, sent his foreign minister to open an embassy in Jerusalem, and pulled out of the ICJ case.

Lula remains in office; the source did not state an inauguration date for the next term.