Some sober thoughts on tonight's election in Brazil: Lula has achieved a stunning reelection, reversing an equally stunning blue wave from Bolsonarismo in the first round. No other president since redemocratization had ever won a run-off after losing in the first round. The turnaround comes thanks to some serious campaigning around the country by the octogenarian. The Bolsonaros should but doubtless won't reflect on the negative impact of promises of mass austerity and privatizations. Similarly, their intentional and unintentional efforts to sanction and tariff their own country by the Trump administration will go down in history as one of the most despicable and self-defeating decisions in history. The Brazilian people deserve to be celebrated for rejecting such treachery. At the same time, the results will be understandably contested due to irregularities originating in both camps. Some Bolsonaro-allied mayors screwed with transport to polling stations in Lula strongholds (apparently in Salvador this was in part due to PT supporters). Lula requested an extension to voting, as did Flavio Bolsonaro due to inclement weather in the country's South where he is strong. Once polling stations had already closed, Supreme Court Justice Zanin (formerly Lula's personal lawyer) issued a monochromatic decision reopening polling stations. But because many voting machines had already been turned off, they couldn't be restarted. In short, a disaster. The coming days/weeks/months may be troubling. Beyond this, Lula and supporters will need to reckon with the administration's many failings, embodied by the upcoming congress where Bolsonaro's PL made absurd gains. By electing Lula and a historically powerfully PL in congress, voters have sent a clear message that the president should make good on his (and frankly Flavio's) promises to reform the unelected, unaccountable and excessively powerful Supreme Court. If I was Lula, I would cut a deal with the next congress to double a fantastically low minimum wage in exchange for reforming the court and removing Alexandre De Moraes from office. I doubt the president will follow my advice, unfortunately. More likely is that his fourth term will be even more disappointing than his third. To that end there is a disturbingly high possibility that Lula may ultimately end up removed from office, particularly in the event of an eventual crisis. The Real is already collapsing due to the dashing of investor hopes for austerity under Flavio. With all that said, it's good to see Bolsonarismo defeated. More to come soon. xitter.cf/Alex__1789/status/2114…