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

He ​defeated Sen.  Flavio Bolsonaro to secure a fourth non-consecutive term.

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 the development of bilateral relations.

“It is difficult to overstate your personal contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between Brazil and Russia.

“We will, of course, continue to work closely together to further strengthen our fruitful bilateral cooperation across all areas.

He also 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.

He described Lula as a “dear friend”, stated his intention to expand the strategic partnership between the two countries, and to jointly promote Global South initiatives.

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

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

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

Lula da Silva received congratulations from representatives of a number of Latin American countries, including Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Panama, as well as the President of the State Council of Cuba.

Lula was born on Oct. 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 once again.