In the voting, immigrants were chosen as the national personality, while the international figure was the Palestinian people, at the centre of the news due to Israel's offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has already left thousands dead.

In the Lusophone world, Brazil dominated the choices of Lusa journalists. The most voted event was the sentencing of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup against Lula da Silva's election in 2023.

Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, who received a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Walter Salles' film "I'm Still Here," was considered the personality of the year in the Lusophone world.

114 journalists participated in these votes – 69 voted for the power outage, followed by the Elevador da Glória accident with 34 votes, and the summer fires with 11 votes.

Immigrants, at the centre of media and political attention with an increase in xenophobic discourse, received 58 votes, while pregnant women, who made headlines for births in ambulances and even in public streets, received 32 votes.

André Ventura, leader of Chega, a key figure in the rise of the radical right, received 16 votes, while comedian Joana Marques, acquitted in a lawsuit involving the singers Anjos and a landmark in the defense of freedom of expression, garnered seven votes.

International

As for international figures, the Palestinian people led the voting (53), followed by Donald Trump, who controversially returned to the presidency of the United States (41), and Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, the son of immigrants and a left-wing politician.

Regarding international events, the Gaza War, the devastation, and the humanitarian crisis it has caused since 2024 were the choice of 90 journalists.

In second place, with 15 votes, came the controversial tariff policy imposed by the United States, which has caused geopolitical disruption in many regions and a slowdown in global growth, followed, with nine votes, by climate change.

In the Lusophone world, the event chosen with 62 votes was the conviction of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been in pre-trial detention since last week.

The 50th anniversary of independence, celebrated in 2025 in four Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor, received 33 votes, and the police operation in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which left more than 130 dead, obtained 19 votes.

The list of topics for voting was the result of a debate between the Information Directorate and the agency's editors. The voting, by email, took place between November 12 and 27.

Since 2016, journalists have chosen the national, international, and Lusophone events and figures of the year.

Lusa will publish the texts about the events and personalities of 2025 on December 6.