World reacts to Lula’s victory in Brazil’s presidential election

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has secured a fourth nonconsecutive term, defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a run-off.

Bolsonaro, however, has called for Sunday’s vote to be annulled over an “unacceptable” two-hour voting extension granted by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, despite both candidates having requested additional voting time.

The election results have drawn reactions across the world, with left-wing global figures celebrating Lula’s victory.

Here’s how the world reacted:

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum

Sheinbaum congratulated Lula in a post on X. “Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won,” she wrote.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

In his congratulatory post, Carney credited Lula with advancing relations between Canada and Brazil.

“Let us seize this opportunity to strengthen them further, together – to create new promising commercial prospects, protect the environment, and ensure greater prosperity for both our populations,” he wrote on X.

US officials and politicians

US President Donald Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr criticised the result, referring to the two-hour voting time extension.

“If a conservative government in Brazil did this, everyone in the mainstream press in America would lose their minds, but I guess they’re just choosing to be silent because it’s all for the cause,” he said.

Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, congratulated Lula’s “extraordinary re-election victory”, saying the Brazilian president has “stood up” for workers and democracy and will continue to do so for the next four years.

Congressman Ro Khanna said in a post on X: “People all across the world are fighting back against extremism. With Lula in Brazil, they just won. Authoritarian leaders always attack democracy because they stand no chance against the will of their people.”

Khanna added that Trump “must respect the results and not undermine Brazil’s elections”.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X: “The people united will never be defeated!”

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s media office released a statement, saying he is “proud to stand with Brazil and partners around the world who share our commitment to defending democracy, protecting our environment, strengthening workers’ rights, and building an economy that works for working families”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry

China congratulated Lula through a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.

“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,” 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.”

Russian presidency

The Kremlin says it welcomed the re-election of Lula da Silva and praised him for his contribution to bilateral ties and to the intergovernmental BRICS organisation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Lula had done a lot for bilateral ties and for developing BRICS and hoped for more of the same.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel

Diaz-Canel said Lula’s “historic” win “ensures the continuity of the path of peace, sovereignty, and social justice embarked upon by the Brazilian people under your leader”.

“Brazil can count on Cuba in the construction of the unity and integration of our Great Homeland, Latin American and Caribbean,” he wrote in a post on X.

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast

Kast said he spoke on the phone with Lula to congratulate him on his victory.

“Chile and Brazil have a lot of shared future ahead, and we will continue working on an agenda that strengthens relations between our countries in economic integration and the fight against organised crime in the region,” he said on X.

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori

In a congratulatory post on X, Fujimori reaffirmed Peru’s “willingness to strengthen our strategic alliance, integration, cooperation and the sustainable development of the Amazon that we share” with Brazil.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz

“Bolivia and Brazil are neighbouring and sister countries, united by a shared history and common challenges,” Rodrigo wrote on X.

The two countries will continue to work together to strengthen ties and “generate more opportunities for our nations”, he added.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino

“I congratulate the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌Brazilian ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌people for this democratic day and especially President Lula for the victory!” Mulino wrote on X. “We will continue working together for our countries.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Von der Leyen congratulated Lula on X, proclaiming that democracy and multilateralism “have won” in Brazil.

“Europe’s partnership with Brazil is thriving. We will remain by your side for the years to come,” she added. “Together we will keep working closely for free and open trade. A rules-based global order. And strong ambitions for our climate.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez

Sanchez hailed the victory of his leftist Brazilian ally as a “progressive comeback”.

“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, after Lula’s recovery from a first round loss halted a string of right-wing gains in Latin America.

French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron called for efforts to “strengthen our strategic partnership” after Lula’s win.

“France and Brazil have much to build together,” Macron said on X, saying their two countries should nurture their friendship “in the service of a fairer world”.

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa

“Our region has common enemies, shared challenges, and much to gain when we work together,” Noboa wrote on X, congratulating Lula.

Paraguayan President Santiago Pena

“I salute the Brazilian people for this great democratic journey,” Pena wrote on X.

“Paraguay and Brazil share a common agenda of integration and development. We will continue working together for the wellbeing of our people.”

Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi

Orsi wrote on X that he had just spoken with his “friend” Lula and congratulated him “on the victory and on the democratic celebration that an electoral process represents”.

Argentina’s former President Cristina Kirchner

“Congratulations,” Kirchner wrote on X, “first to the Brazilian people”, and also to Lula, for knowing “how to awaken in your compatriots feeling and sense to win this battle”.