Luiz Inácio da Silva has announced he will run for a fourth term as Brazil’s president in the nation’s elections in 2026.
The 79-year-old had indicated during his last election campaign that it would be his last – but stressed he did not feel his age in comments during a state visit to Indonesia on Thursday.
“I’m about to turn 80 years old, but you can be sure I have the same energy I had when I was 30. And I will run for a fourth term in Brazil,” Lula told reporters.
The decision to run comes despite Lula suffering health problems in office after winning in the tightest run-off election in the South American nation’s history.
Already Brazil’s oldest president when inaugurated, in December last year he underwent surgery for a brain bleed caused by a blow to the head he sustained in a fall in the presidential palace.
The left-wing leader beat then-incumbent Jair Bolsonaro by 51% to 49% in 2022.
The right-wing firebrand is unlikely to be able to challenge Lula again, as he is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a military coup aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the last election.
Bolsonaro’s incarceration has drawn the ire of US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
However, the two described having a “friendly” call earlier in October as Lula seeks to reduce those levies, and are expected to meet on Sunday.
Lula, who turns 80 on Monday, has himself been imprisoned – for 18 months on corruption charges – but was freed in 2018 after the case was overturned.
He has hinted at a possible fourth run for president since returning to office, but had so far stopped short of a formal announcement.
Brazil’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms. Lula previously served a two-term stint between 2003 and 2011.
