Mérida, October 26, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan and Latin American leaders praised Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s electoral triumph in Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday.
Lula defeated far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in the electoral runoff, securing a historic fourth term with 51.79 percent of the vote (64.25 million votes) against Bolsonaro’s 48.21 percent (59.82 million).
The Venezuelan government, in an official statement, congratulated the people of Brazil for their “massive and civic participation in the electoral process, which led to the victory of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.”
The statement also reiterated Venezuela’s “commitment to continuing its cooperation with Brazil, based on the principles of peace, unreserved respect for sovereignty, and Latin American and Caribbean solidarity.”
For her part, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez congratulated Lula and the Brazilian people, calling the result “a lesson against extremism.”
Adding to the Venezuelan government’s position, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) issued a statement extending “its most fraternal and heartfelt congratulations” to the Brazilian people for their “democratic achievement.”
Lula’s victory drew further praise from progressive leaders in Latin America.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated the 81-year-old Lula in her morning briefing, labeling his triumph “a breath of fresh air for Latin America and the Caribbean” and a “highly significant” defeat for the continental right, which had won a string of elections against left and center-left candidates in recent years.
Cuban President Díaz-Canel praised the Brazilian leader’s “historic victory,” while Uruguay’s Yamandú Orsi hailed the “democratic celebration.”
Lula, running for a fourth presidential term on the Workers’ Party (PT) ticket, overcame a first-round disadvantage to Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL), son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence following a coup attempt in the wake of his 2022 defeat to Lula.
In his first speech after the official results were declared, the reelected leader praised a victory for Brazilian democracy.
“We are going to change the way we govern; we are going to ensure greater participation for the people,” Lula told a euphoric crowd in São Paulo.
The veteran leader also emphasized the urgent need to regulate foreign technology companies operating in Brazil, as well as social media platforms. Lula highlighted the impact of algorithms and how they influence public opinion.
For his part, defeated challenger Bolsonaro initially refused to concede, arguing that the vote was rigged after electoral authorities extended voting for two additional hours to compensate for weather issues and efforts from the Brazilian right to block public transportation in pro-Lula areas.
On Monday, Bolsonaro stated that “the system won” and that he would “organize the opposition against barbarism.”
The senator had been backed by US President Donald Trump. On Monday, Trump claimed the election looked “rigged.”
“I didn’t take sides, but it was a terrible look for the world,” Trump told reporters in Washington. “I watched the election and it looked so corrupt, so terrible.” However, he did not announce any actions to back Bolsonaro and said he enjoys a good relationship with Lula.
A former metalworker and trade union leader, Lula was a founder of the Workers’ Party before winning the presidency in 2003. He enjoyed very close relations with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez as the pair sought to push Latin American integration.
Caracas staunchly supported Lula after he was imprisoned in 2018 on controversial corruption charges that were later annulled by the Supreme Court.
Ties with the Nicolás Maduro government were strained after Brasília blocked Venezuela from joining the BRICS alliance as a partner nation. The Lula government cited a “breach of trust” after Venezuelan authorities failed to publish the broken-down results from the July 2024 presidential contest that saw Maduro declared the winner and secure a third term.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
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