Politics
Youth vote figures in Brazil and Serbia’s political upheaval
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term in a come-from-behind runoff, while a student movement rooted in anti-corruption protests helped end a longtime leader’s rule in Serbia. Young voters played a major role in both unexpected political shifts.
Two unexpected election outcomes in Brazil and Serbia have underscored the influence of young voters, with one returning an incumbent to power and the other marking a breakthrough for a protest movement.
In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term in a presidential runoff held Sunday, Oct. 25, after a late-turnaround campaign. Lula, who is in his 80s, celebrated with supporters on São Paulo’s Paulista Avenue.
In Serbia, a student movement that grew out of years of anti-corruption protests toppled the country’s longtime leader. The movement’s rise highlights how sustained civic organizing can reshape national politics.
Young voters played a major role in both outcomes, linking the contests despite their different political contexts. Together, the results show how voter mobilization and grassroots pressure can upend expectations at the ballot box.