Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will run for a fourth presidential term

Luis Inacio da Silva has announced that he will run for a fourth term as president of Brazil in the 2026 national elections.

The 79-year-old indicated during his last election campaign that it would be his last, but insisted he was not feeling his age in comments during a state visit to Indonesia on Thursday.

“I’m about to turn 80, 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 the narrowest runoff election in the South American nation’s history.

He was already Brazil’s oldest president when he took office last December underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage caused by a blow to the head which he received in a fall in the presidential palace.

The left-wing leader beat then-president Jair Bolsonaro 51% to 49% in 2022.

The right-wing former president is unlikely to challenge Lula again as he is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a military coup aimed at keeping him in power after losing the last election.

The court case that led to his lengthy sentence drew the ire of US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose 50% duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

However, the two described having a “friendly” conversation earlier in October as Lula seeks to reduce those levies, and are expected to meet on Sunday.

Lula himself, who turns 80 on Monday, was jailed – for 18 months later allegations of corruption – but was released in 2018 after the case was dropped.

He has hinted at a possible fourth presidential bid since returning to office, but has yet to make an official announcement.

Brazil’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms. Lula previously served two terms between 2003 and 2011.