Most Latin American leaders congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva on his reelection on Sunday, including several right-wing politicians who had opposed him politically.
Argentine President Javier Milei and United States President Donald Trump, however, have yet to publicly comment on his victory. Both had openly supported Lula’s rival in the runoff, far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who has contested the results.
Da Silva secured a fourth term at the helm of Brazil with 51.8% of the vote, defeating Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Party (PL, in Portuguese), son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) who received 48.2%.
Among those who acknowledged the Brazilian president’s triumph were right-wing leaders such as Peru’s Keiko Fujimori, Colombia’s Abelardo De La Espriella, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Chile’s José Antonio Kast.
The result came as a surprise after Da Silva finished second in the general election, with 45% of the vote against Bolsonaro’s 47%.
Bolsonaro later said he would not recognize the election results and would ask his legal team to seek their annulment, accusing the Federal Supreme Court of changing the rules during the process.
The controversy followed a decision to extend voting hours from the originally scheduled 5 p.m. deadline to 7 p.m., due to public transportation problems in several states, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding in the country’s northeast.
Regional leaders congratulate Lula
“Long live democracy! The Brazilian people have won. Congratulations, President Lula!” Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X.
Similarly, Uruguay’s Yamandú Orsi called Lula “a friend” and said he had congratulated him on his victory and “the celebration of democracy that an election represents.”
Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa also congratulated Da Silva, adding that South America has “common enemies, shared challenges, and much to gain when we work together.”
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña took to X to congratulate his Brazilian counterpart, saying Paraguay and Brazil share “a common agenda of integration and development” and would “continue to work together for the well-being of our people.”
Beyond Latin America, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also congratulated Da Silva.
Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández also sent her congratulations, praising Lula for knowing how to “inspire in your compatriots the passion and determination needed to win this battle.”
Milei and Trump remain silent
Milei was the only South American leader not to publicly congratulate Da Silva on his victory. Trump, a longtime ally of the Argentine president, has also not publicly commented on the result.
Milei and Da Silva have a long-standing feud. Last July, Milei traveled to Brazil to publicly endorse Bolsonaro’s presidential bid. At an event for the campaign launch he referred to Lula, without naming him directly, as a “thief,” a “former convict,” and a “totalitarian.”
The remarks triggered a diplomatic crisis, prompting Brazil’s Foreign Ministry to recall its ambassador to Buenos Aires and summon Argentina’s envoy in Brasília for an explanation.
La entrada Latin American leaders congratulate Lula, but Milei and Trump stay silent se publicó primero en Buenos Aires Herald.