‘Congratulations!’: World leaders hail Lula’s election victory in Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won an unprecedented fourth term late, the country's electoral court said late Sunday, in a shock result that defied polls and provided relief to critics of Washington's widening influence in Latin America under President Donald Trump. Read moreBrazil's Lula beats odds and seals re-election, rival Bolsonaro demands annulment While Lula's opponent Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, refused to accept defeat, analysts say the scale of the loss, with ⁠Bolsonaro trailing Lula by over 4 million votes, makes it unlikely his efforts to annul the vote will succeed. Here are some reactions from leaders across the world: Macron calls for France and Brazil to work for 'a fairer world' French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday congratulated his Brazilian counterpart and calling for efforts to "strengthen our strategic partnership". "France and Brazil have much to build together," Macron said X, saying their two countries should nurture their friendship "in the service of a fairer world". French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday congratulated his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a post on X. © @EmmanuelMacron, X Spain's Sanchez hails 'global progressive comeback' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez celebrated his leftist Brazilian ally's re-election victory, calling it a "progressive comeback", as he trails in polls before Spain's November vote. "A great victory for Lula! What has happened in Brazil will happen in Spain. The global progressive comeback has just begun," Sanchez posted on X on Monday, after Lula's recovery from a first-round loss halted a string of right-wing gains in Latin America. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday celebrated his leftist Brazilian ally Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's re-election victory. © @sanchezcastejon, X China 'expresses its congratulations' China on Monday congratulated Lula on his re-election, saying it was willing to continue working together. "China has noted that Brazil's Superior Electoral Court has announced President Lula has won the second round of the Brazilian general election, and expresses its congratulations," foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular briefing, adding that Beijing was "willing to work with Brazil to continue advancing the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future". Asked about Bolsonaro saying he would request an annulment of the elections, Guo said: "China respects the choice of the Brazilian people." EU chief hails Lula's Brazil victory as win for 'democracy' EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday hailed Lula's re-election victory as a win for "democracy and multilateralism". She congratulated Lula on social media, adding: "Europe's partnership with Brazil is thriving. We will remain by your side for the years to come. Together we will keep working closely for free and open trade. A rules-based global order. And strong ambitions for our climate." 'Long live democracy': Mexico congratulates Lula Mexico's left-wing President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated her Brazilian counterpart Lula on winning Sunday's presidential runoff, staving off a conservative wave seen elsewhere throughout Latin America. "Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won. Congratulations, President Lula!" Sheinbaum wrote on X. Peru affirms strategic alliance Peru's right-wing President Keiko Fujimori praised Brazil's "democratic day" of elections and congratulated Lula on his win. "I reaffirm our willingness to strengthen our strategic alliance, integration, cooperation, and the sustainable development of the Amazon that we share, for the benefit of both our peoples," she said on X. Cuba welcomes 'historic victory' Cuba hailed Lula's re-election as a "historic victory that ensures the continuity of the path of peace, sovereignty and social justice embarked upon by the Brazilian people under your leadership". In a congratulatory statement, Havana said, "Brazil can count on Cuba in the construction of the unity and integration of our Great Homeland, Latin American and the Caribbean." India congratulates a BRICS partner Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the current chair of the BRICS geopolitical and economic bloc, which includes Brazil, offered Lula his "heartiest congratulations". "I look forward to working closely with him to further deepen and expand the multifaceted India-Brazil Strategic Partnership," he added. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. 'Lula has stood up for Brazilian workers,' says US Senator Sanders US Senator Bernie Sanders, a firebrand leftist, congratulated Lula on his "extraordinary" victory. "Lula has stood up for Brazilian workers & democracy – and will continue to do so in the next four years," he said on X. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)