World leaders on Monday congratulated Brazil President Luiz Lula da Silva for his victory in Sunday’s presidential election runoff.

He defeated Flavio Bolsonaro to secure a fourth non-consecutive term. Mr Bolsonaro received 48.25 per cent of the vote. These figures are based on 99.76 per cent of the votes counted, as reported on Monday by TV BRICS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the Brazilian leader’s significant personal contribution to developing bilateral relations.

“It is difficult to overstate your personal contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between Brazil and Russia,” said Mr Putin. “We will, of course, continue to work closely together to further strengthen our fruitful bilateral cooperation across all areas.”

He said both countries would continue their “constructive engagement” within the UN, BRICS, the G20, and other multilateral bodies.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent his congratulations, describing Mr da Silva as a “dear friend” and stating his intention to expand the strategic partnership between the two countries and to promote Global South initiatives jointly.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described Mr Lula da Silva’s victory as historic and highlighted his long-standing commitment to social justice and defending the interests of developing countries.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wrote on social media that the Brazilian people had supported Mr Lula da Silva’s policy of strengthening national sovereignty.

He also said he had enhanced Brazil’s standing as a major world power by promoting UN reform and building a just world order.

Mr da Silva received congratulations from representatives of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Panama, as well as the president of Cuba’s State Council.

Mr da Silva was born on October 27, 1945, in Caetese to a family of farmers. From the late 1960s, he worked in steelworks and for a trade union; from 1975, he led the ABC metalworkers’ union.

In 1980, he founded the Workers’ Party. He stood in the 1989, 1994, and 1998 elections, coming second each time. He won the presidential election in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006.

In 2023, he returned to power.

(TV BRICS/NAN)