Luiz Inacio da Silva has announced that he will run for a fourth term as President of Brazil in 2026.
The 79-year-old hinted during his last election campaign that it would be his last – but insisted he did not feel his age in comments during a state visit to Indonesia on Thursday.
“I’m going to be 80 years old, but you can be sure I have the same energy as when I was 30. And I’m going to run for the fourth time in Brazil,” Lula told reporters.
Lula has decided to run for office despite health problems after winning the toughest run-off election in the South American nation’s history.
He was already inaugurated as Brazil’s oldest president, in December last year Surgery was done for bleeding in the brain He survived a fall to the presidential palace after hitting his head.
The left-wing leader defeated then-incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in 2022 by 51% to 49%.
The right-wing firebrand cannot 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 imprisonment has angered US President Donald Trump and prompted him to impose 50% duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
However, the two described a “friendly” call in early October as Lu said they were trying to get the charges dropped and were expected to meet on Sunday.
Lula, who turns 80 on Monday, has been in prison himself – for 18 months Allegations of corruption – but he was released after the case was dropped in 2018.
He has hinted at a possible fourth run for president since returning to office, but has held off on a formal announcement until now.
The Brazilian constitution limits the president to two consecutive terms. Lula previously served two terms from 2003 to 2011.
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