TSE Certifies Lula Re‑election and Sets Post‑Election Calendar

Overview

• The Tribunal Superior Eleitoral has certified Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as president with 51.79% of valid votes, confirming his victory over Flávio Bolsonaro in the 2026 election.
• The Justiça Eleitoral must complete diplomation of all elected officials by December 18, 2026, a formal act that officially ends the electoral process and grants the right to office under the Electoral Code.
• Regional electoral courts are scheduling local ceremonies to meet that deadline, with the Tribunal Regional Eleitoral da Paraíba fixing its diplomation for December 17 in João Pessoa.
• Constitutional Amendment No. 111/2021 moves executive inaugurations to January 5, 2027 for president and vice‑president and to January 6, 2027 for governors and vice‑governors, while legislators will be sworn in on February 1, 2027.
• Diplomation responsibilities are divided by office: the TSE handles the presidency and vice‑presidency, TREs handle governors and federal/state legislators, and Juntas Eleitorais handle municipal offices, which affects local timing and ceremony plans.