Following a heated and close contest in one of the most populous democracies in the world, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva was elected to be the next president of Brazil on Sunday. 

With 99.76 percent of the votes counted, he defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro with 50.89 percent of the vote.

Former union leader and two-term president Lula ran on a platform of protecting democratic principles, portraying his victory over Bolsonaro as essential to maintaining Brazil's democracy.

Who is Lula? Get to know Brazil’s new president.

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