World Leaders Congratulate Lula On Election Victory

World leaders have congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following his victory in Sunday’s presidential election runoff, which secured him another term in office.

Lula defeated his rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, to win a fourth non-consecutive term as Brazil’s president. Bolsonaro secured 48.25 per cent of the votes, according to figures released by TV BRICS on Monday, with 99.76 per cent of the ballots counted.

Among those who congratulated Lula was Russian President Vladimir Putin, who praised his role in strengthening relations between Brazil and Russia. Putin expressed confidence that both countries would continue to build on their strategic partnership and expand cooperation in different areas.

The Russian leader also said the two countries would maintain close engagement through international organisations, including the United Nations, BRICS and the Group of 20 (G20). He noted that continued cooperation through these platforms would help strengthen relations between Moscow and Brasília.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Lula on his electoral success. Modi described the Brazilian leader as a close friend and expressed his commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between India and Brazil.

He also indicated that both countries would continue working together on issues affecting developing nations, particularly through initiatives aimed at strengthening the position of countries in the Global South.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim joined other world leaders in celebrating Lula’s victory, describing the outcome as historic. He praised the Brazilian president’s long-standing efforts to promote social justice and protect the interests of developing countries.

Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, also congratulated Lula in a social media post. He said the Brazilian electorate had supported the president’s approach to protecting national sovereignty and strengthening the country’s position on the international stage.

Tokayev further praised Lula’s efforts to increase Brazil’s influence in global affairs, including his support for reforms at the United Nations and the promotion of a fairer international order.

Lula also received congratulatory messages from leaders and representatives of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama. The president of Cuba’s State Council was also among those who sent messages following the election result.

The Brazilian president, whose full name is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was born on October 27, 1945, in Caetés, Brazil, into a family of farmers.

He began working in the steel industry in the late 1960s and later became involved in trade union activities. In 1975, he became the leader of the ABC metalworkers’ union, where he gained national recognition for his involvement in labour movements.

In 1980, Lula helped establish the Workers’ Party, which later became a major political force in Brazil. He first contested the presidential election in 1989 but lost. He also ran in the 1994 and 1998 elections, finishing second on both occasions.

His breakthrough came in 2002, when he won the presidential election and became Brazil’s president. He secured a second term in 2006, remaining in office until 2010.

After years away from the presidency, Lula returned to power in 2023 following another election victory. His latest win marks another return to office and is expected to shape Brazil’s domestic policies and its relationships with other countries in the coming years.