Brazil · Head of state and government

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

President of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Office

President of the Federative Republic of Brazil

In office since

1 January 2023

Party

Workers' Party (PT)

Born

1945

How Silva took office

Britannica reports that he was President from 2003 to 2011 and again from 2023, and CNN reports his first term began on 1 January 2003. The UN protocol list dated 20 October 2026 names him as President with a start date of 1 January 2023.^4,5,1

Career

1. 1 January 2003 to 2010President of Brazil, two consecutive terms^4,5
2. 1 January 2023 to presentPresident of Brazil^1,4

Term of office

Constitutional Amendment 111 of 28 September 2021 rewrote Article 82 so that the presidential term of four years begins on 5 January of the year after the election. The amendment says this applies from the 2026 elections, so the term won in 2026 begins on 5 January 2027.⁶

Notable facts

• 4 October 2026: In the first round of the 2026 presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula advanced to a runoff set for 25 October 2026, Euronews and MercoPress reported.^2,3
• 25 October 2026: He won the presidential runoff of 25 October 2026 against Flávio Bolsonaro and was elected to a fourth term, Agência Senado and Gazeta do Povo reported. Agência Senado reported that the Superior Electoral Court declared him re-elected that evening. Under Constitutional Amendment 111 the new term begins on 5 January 2027.^7,8,6

Career facts only, from official biographies and reputable news reports. Checked 28 October 2026. Office holders change: see the sources for the latest.

Sources

1. United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service, Heads of State, Heads of Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs (list dated 20 October 2026) (20 October 2026)
2. Euronews, Brazil heads to a runoff presidential vote after Bolsonaro and Lula fail to acquire outright majority (5 October 2026)
3. MercoPress, Flavio Bolsonaro edges Lula in the first round, both head to an October 25 runoff (5 October 2026)
4. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Britannica biography) (28 October 2026)
5. CNN, Lula da Silva profile (17 March 2016)
6. Câmara dos Deputados, Legislação Informatizada, Emenda Constitucional nº 111, de 28 de setembro de 2021 (28 September 2021)
7. Agência Senado (Federal Senate of Brazil), Lula é reeleito para quarto mandato de presidente (25 October 2026)
8. Gazeta do Povo, Lula vence em eleição mais confusa dos últimos anos (25 October 2026)