Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially declared his intention to run for a fourth term in the 2026 presidential elections. The announcement, made during a state visit to Indonesia, comes despite Lula’s earlier indications that his 2022 campaign would be his last. Addressing reporters, the 79-year-old leader dismissed concerns about his age, stating, ‘I’m about to turn 80, but I have the same energy I had at 30. I will run for a fourth term in Brazil.’ This decision follows a challenging period for Lula, who has faced health issues during his current presidency, including a brain bleed that required surgery last December. Lula, Brazil’s oldest president upon inauguration, narrowly defeated right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 election, winning by a slim 51% to 49% margin. Bolsonaro, now serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a military coup after his election loss, is unlikely to challenge Lula again. The former president’s imprisonment has sparked tensions with the U.S., leading President Donald Trump to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports. However, Lula and Trump recently held a ‘friendly’ call to discuss reducing these tariffs, with a meeting scheduled for Sunday. Lula, who turns 80 on Monday, has a storied political career, including two terms as president from 2003 to 2011 and an 18-month imprisonment on corruption charges, which were later overturned. Brazil’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms, but Lula’s previous terms do not disqualify him from running again. His announcement marks a significant moment in Brazilian politics as the nation prepares for the 2026 elections.