# Lula’s Succession Race Starts Now

> Brazil’s 81-year-old president must find a successor before his next term ends.
- Title: Lula’s Succession Race Starts Now · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: Brazil’s 81-year-old president must find a successor before his next term ends. Lula da Silva needs to develop viable left-wing successors as he turns 81 and…
- Keywords: lula, brazil, succession, flavio bolsonaro, rui costa, rafael fonteles, geraldo alckmin, federico haddad, camilo santana, joao campos, renan filho, Race
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/02/brazil-election-lula-age-workers-party-fonteles
- Author: Oliver Stuenkel
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lula, brazil, succession, pt, flavio bolsonaro, rui costa, rafael fonteles, geraldo alckmin, federico haddad, camilo santana, joao campos, renan filho
## Lula turns 81
Brazil’s 81-year-old president must find a successor before his next term ends.
## Lula’s 2026 election win
Lula won his fourth presidential term against flávio bolsonaro by less than 2 points.
## Flávio Bolsonaro’s escape
Flávio Bolsonaro fled to the United States after losing the presidential race.
## Lula’s political longevity
Lula has been president since 2003 and won four elections.
## Lula’s strategy for succession
Lula has contained rivals and brought them back into his coalition.
## Fernando Haddad’s failures
Haddad lost four elections in a row after serving as Lula’s finance minister.
## Rafael Fonteles’ rise
Fonteles, 41, won re-election with 70.9 percent of the vote as Piauí governor.
## Lula’s succession challenges
Lula faces economic constraints and a divided left-wing party.
## Lula’s 2010 succession error
Lula chose Rousseff as his successor, leading to economic downturn and her impeachment.
## Rafael Fonteles as finance minister
Fonteles could become finance minister to gain national visibility.
## Camilo Santana’s role
Santana leads the PT in the Senate and was Lula’s campaign coordinator.
## João Campos’ potential
Campos, 32, of the Brazilian Socialist Party, could become Lula’s successor.
## Lula’s succession strategy
Lula must let successors grow without immediate political cost.
## PT’s voter rejection
27 percent of Brazilians prefer the PT as their party, 37 percent will never vote for it.
## Lula’s next steps
Lula must build a successor bench to avoid becoming a lame duck.
## The left’s future
The Brazilian left risks becoming underdogs without Lula’s leadership.
## Key takeaway

Lula da Silva needs to develop viable left-wing successors as he turns 81 and faces economic challenges.