World leaders hail Lula for election victory; pledge to work with him

Brasilia, Oct 31 (Prensa Latina) The world hails Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who even suffered 580 day political imprisonment for his victory in the Sunday presidential runoff in Brazil over incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, winning 50.90% of the vote.

October 31, 2022
13:09

From Washington to Moscow, Beijing, London, Ottawa, Canberra and Paris congratulations messages have poured into Lula’s headquarters. All Latin American and Caribbean Heads of States and Government have hailed the Workers Party’s leader for his resounding triumph.

Even, Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández was to the first Stateman to fly to Sao Paulo to meet Lula. He was accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Santiago Cafiero, the Secretary General of the Presidency, Julio Vitobello, the spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti, the deputies Eduardo Valdes, Carlos Heller and other officials.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said in his congratulatory message: “I hope that by joint efforts we will ensure the further development of constructive Russian-Brazilian cooperation in all areas.”

US President Joe Biden tweeted that he was sending his congratulations to Lula “on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections.” He added he was eager to work “together to continue the cooperation” between the US and Brazil “in the months and years ahead.”

All of BRICS+ leaders also sent message of congratulations and best wishes of success in his future job as president.

Both prime ministers Rishi Sunak, of United Kingdom, and Justin Trudeau, of Canada, made it clear their Twitter post that they were keen to work with Lula in order “to strengthen the partnership between our countries and to advance shared priorities – like protecting the environment.”

This followed Lula’s delivering a speech after he prevailed over Bolsonaro by getting support from a record 60.2 million voters (50.9 percent) in the Sunday runoff, in which the incumbent president gained 49.1 percent.

Lula, who became president in 2003 and served two terms until 2010, has been praised for the extensive social welfare program he introduced during his two administrations, helping lift tens of millions into the middle class, and presiding over the country’s economic boom.

The 77-year-old left office with an approval rating of 83 percent. His latest election campaign focused on taxing the rich, introducing a policy for land reform, raising the minimum wage and fighting again poverty (there are 33 million poor Brazilians) and the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.