'Historic victory': World leaders celebrate Lula's re-election

World leaders congratulated Brazil's left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday, after he pulled off a dramatic comeback to claim re-election in a closely fought run-off vote.

Lula's victory was acknowledged by left- and right-wing leaders alike, despite his conservative challenger Flávio Bolsonaro saying he would seek to have the election annulled. The leftist leader secured 51.7 percent of the vote against 48.2 percent for his rival, the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).

The result marked a comeback for Lula after he finished behind Bolsonaro in the first round of voting, securing Brazil's place among the region's remaining progressive strongholds.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed Lula's victory as a win for "democracy and multilateralism."

"Europe's partnership with Brazil is thriving," she said in a post on X.

Mexico's leftist President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated Lula's victory on Sunday, writing: "Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won. Congratulations, President Lula!"

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel congratulated his "brother" on his "historic victory," saying it guaranteed "the continuity of the path of peace, sovereignty and social justice."

"Brazil can count on Cuba in building the unity and integration of our great Latin American and Caribbean homeland," he added.

Argentina's former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is serving a six-year prison sentence under house arrest for corruption, celebrated her "fellow president" and ally, whom Lula visited in Buenos Aires in 2025.

Lula "knew how to awaken in his compatriots the feeling and sense needed to win this electoral battle", she wrote on X.

Uruguay's President Yamandú Orsi said he had spoken to his re-elected "friend" in neighbouring Brazil.

"I congratulated him on his victory and on the democratic celebration that an electoral process represents," he said.

Guatemala's social-democratic President Bernardo Arévalo also congratulated Lula, writing: "Guatemala and Brazil share the conviction that governing means working for the common good."

'Democratic day'

With Lula's victory, Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, has resisted a conservative shift that has swept countries including Argentina, Chile and Colombia, backed by US President Donald Trump.

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Brazilian people had given "a resounding demonstration of civic and democratic participation." 

Peru's right-wing President Keiko Fujimori praised Brazil's "democratic day" and congratulated Lula on his re-election.

"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.

Chile's President José Antonio Kast, an ally of the Bolsonaro clan, said he had spoken to Lula and offered his congratulations.

"Chile and Brazil have a great future in common," he wrote, adding that the two countries would work to strengthen economic integration and combat organised crime in the region.

Ecuador's conservative President Daniel Noboa also called for cooperation during Lula's fourth term.

"Our region has common enemies, shared challenges and much to gain when we work together," Noboa said on X.

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader expressed hope that the two countries would continue working together towards "a more integrated and prosperous Latin America" during Lula's renewed four-year term.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña likewise said he hoped to work with Lula for the well-being of their peoples.

Argentina's President Javier Milei, who has repeatedly clashed with Lula, has yet to react.

'Progressive comeback'

Beyond Latin America, world leaders also welcomed the victory of Lula, a prominent figure in international diplomacy and an outspoken advocate for the Global South.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez celebrated the result as the beginning of a "progressive comeback".

"Great victory for Lula! What has happened in Brazil will happen in Spain. The global progressive comeback has just begun," Sánchez wrote, ahead of November's general election in which he is seeking re-election.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for closer cooperation with Lula to build "a fairer world", while von der Leyen highlighted the importance of multilateralism.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said bilateral relations had "flourished" under Lula's leadership.

"Let's seize this opportunity to make them even stronger, together," Carney said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country currently chairs the BRICS bloc of emerging economies alongside Brazil, Russia and China, congratulated his "dear friend" Lula and pledged to continue working together to advance their shared priorities for the Global South.

"I look forward to working closely with him to further deepen and expand the multifaceted India-Brazil Strategic Partnership," Modi said.

Russia also welcomed Lula's victory, with a Kremlin spokesman saying the Brazilian leader had done "a lot, not only for the development of bilateral relations but also for advancing processes within the framework of BRICS."

"We welcome Mr. Lula's victory. He does a lot, not only for the development of bilateral relations but also for advancing processes within the framework of BRICS," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing was willing to work with Brazil to continue building "a community with a shared future," as the two countries deepen their cooperation within the BRICS bloc.

US Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent figure on the left in the United States, also welcomed the result.

"Lula has stood up for Brazilian workers and democracy – and will continue to do so in the next four years," Sanders said.