Lula wins Brazil's presidential election as foreign leaders send congratulations

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential election, according to France 24 and Anadolu Agency.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said at a regular briefing that Brazil's Superior Electoral Court had announced Lula as the winner of the second round. France 24 quoted him as saying: "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."

The result

According to France 24, the electoral court announced late on Sunday that Lula had won the runoff against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. He is the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. France 24 described the win as an unprecedented fourth term for Lula. It reported that Bolsonaro trailed Lula by more than 4 million votes. It also reported that Lula lost the first round and that the result defied polls.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include official vote totals, percentages or turnout. They do not include first-round results or the polling figures. They also do not include a statement from Lula after the result.

International reactions

According to France 24, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: "France and Brazil have much to build together." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia welcomed Lula's victory. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X: "Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won. Congratulations, President Lula!"

France 24 also reported congratulations from Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, the Cuban government, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the current chair of BRICS, and US Senator Bernie Sanders. An Anadolu Agency headline said Asian leaders congratulated Lula. France 24 reported Asian reactions from China and India; the Anadolu Agency report reviewed by Vocemundi does not say which Asian leaders it referred to. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a reaction from the US government.

What each side says

• Flavio Bolsonaro has refused to accept defeat and seeks to have the election annulled, according to France 24. The reports do not include a direct statement from him, the legal grounds for his demand, or whether a formal challenge has been filed.
• Analysts cited by France 24, who were not named, said his efforts are unlikely to succeed given the size of the margin.
• China: Asked about the annulment plan, Guo said: "China respects the choice of the Brazilian people."
• Pedro Sanchez, Spain's prime minister, wrote on X: "A great victory for Lula! What has happened in Brazil will happen in Spain. The global progressive comeback has just begun." France 24 reported that Sanchez trails in polls ahead of Spain's November election.
• Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, called the result a win for democracy and multilateralism, according to France 24.

France 24's report draws on AFP, AP and Reuters. It does not say which agency supplied which detail.

Analysis

The international response, as described by France 24, shows a range of governments recognising the result quickly. Such recognition may limit the room for a challenge to gain traction abroad. Inside Brazil, the next steps depend on whether Flavio Bolsonaro files a formal challenge, and on how the electoral court responds. Unnamed analysts cited by France 24 consider annulment unlikely, but this is an assessment, not an outcome. Some reactions, such as Pedro Sanchez's, also framed the result in terms of their own domestic politics. Official vote figures from the court would allow a fuller independent assessment of the margin.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.