Lula Elected President of Brazil

By Ana Andrade

On October 25, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, achieved a dramatic electoral comeback, defeating his opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro.  This will be a historic fourth term in office. Lula, 80-year-old left-wing leader, received 51.79% of the vote, compared with 48.21% for his 45-year-old rival. Bolsonaro called for the results to be annulled. Lula had lost the first round of the election to Bolsonaro on October 4. (1)

Before the second round, many observers expected Bolsonaro to win. Yet the outcome unfolded differently. How did Lula manage this comeback?

First, more than three million additional people voted in the second round than in the previous one, representing a significant increase in voter participation. (1)

Second, during the second presidential debate on October 23, Lula confronted Bolsonaro over the insulting “nine fingers” remark. Bolsonaro had declared that Lula “gives with one hand and takes away with nine fingers,” referring to Lula’s physical disability, the loss of a finger in a workplace accident.

Lula responded “I will not allow a militiaman to call me nine fingers,” and continued “If there’s anyone here who knows what it means to work, it’s me.”, highlighting his words which drew a clear distinction between his own working history and Bolsonaro’s. Lula demanded an apology, which Bolsonaro subsequently offered. (2)

Lula also addressed maternity leave legislation. Bolsonaro acknowledged that he had been wrong to vote against extending maternity leave, adding that he would vote differently if given the opportunity today. (2)

Brazil is a crucial economic partner, both within the region and globally. As South America’s largest country—and the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the region—it is practically a continent within a continent, with its own distinctive political, cultural, and economic characteristics.

Against the backdrop of a broader rightward shift in several South American countries, Lula’s election represents the continuation of a left-wing political project that seeks to defend the interests of the population, protect the Amazon rainforest—one of the planet’s most important ecological systems—and safeguard the country’s natural resources.

His victory also represents a challenge to ultra-right-wing political agendas that, from this perspective, risk treating South American nations as an extension of US strategic interests rather than as sovereign countries with their own priorities and aspirations.

Astrologically speaking, the planetary transits during the second round offer an intriguing astrological perspective on the election and its unexpected outcome.

In the national chart of Brazil (3), it is found that transiting Mercury retrograde (20 Scorpio) was exactly conjunct Brazil’s Midheaven. The transiting Sun (2 Scorpio) was conjunct Brazil’s natal Mars (3 Scorpio), the ruler of the country’s Midheaven. Meanwhile, transiting Neptune retrograde (2 Aries) was conjunct natal Pluto (0 Aries), while Uranus retrograde (4 Gemini) was moving toward a conjunction with the natal Moon and Jupiter (both at 6° Gemini).

In the chart of Lula da Silva (4), the transiting Sun (2 Scorpio) was conjunct Lula’s natal Sun (3 Scorpio), highlighting a significant moment in his personal and political trajectory. Transiting Mercury retrograde (20 Scorpio) was conjunct his natal Mercury (19 Scorpio), emphasizing communication, incisive debate, and the reconsideration of previous positions.  At the same time, transiting Pluto (3 Aquarius) was square his natal Sun, suggesting a period of profound transformation, intense power struggles, and the potential redefinition of his political role.

In the chart of Flávio Bolsonaro (5), transiting Neptune retrograde was opposing his natal Saturn retrograde (4 Libra) and Jupiter (1 Libra). Transiting Jupiter (23 Leo) was trine his natal Neptune retrograde (24 Sagittarius), while transiting Mercury retrograde (20 Scorpio) was opposing his natal Venus (16 Taurus).  At the time of the election, Mercury—the ruler of Bolsonaro’s Midheaven—was retrograde. From an astrological perspective, this symbolism invites reflection on political communication, public image, and the possibility of unexpected reversals.

Finally, a special emphasis on retrograde periods of planets, especially those that are personal, such as Mercury and Venus, invite to revisit, reconsider, review, and reformulate the situation. Rather than assuming that circumstances will unfold as expected, they encourage us to question our assumptions and remain open to changing conditions.

In this election, the retrograde motion of Mercury and Venus, along with other planets such as Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, five retrogrades playing in heaven, offers a compelling lens through which to consider the uncertainty surrounding the final outcome.  In politics, as in astrology, the outcome may remain uncertain until the very last moment. The race is not over until the final vote is counted.

Notes:

• (1) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/lula-wins-brazil-election
• (2) https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/25/bolsonaro-apologises-twice-to-lula-in-a-calmer-final-debate-as-polls-show-a-dead-heat
• (3) Natal chart of Brazil https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Nation:_Brazil_(Empire,_Independence)  7 September 1822, 16:08, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• (4) Natal chart of Lula Da Silva https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Lula_da_Silva,_Luiz_In%C3%A1cio 27 October 1945, 08:00, Riberao, Pernambuco, Brazil.
• (5) Natal chart of Flávio Bolsonaro https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Bolsonaro,_Fl%C3%A1vio, 30 April 1981, 20:10, Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Title Image Credit:  AFP https://www.perfil.com/noticias/internacional/lula-da-silva-gano-la-presidencia-por-cuarta-vez-como-fue-la-reaccion-de-la-prensa-internacional-jsm-a50.phtml