Lula's win halts Latin America's rightward wave, drawing congratulations — and two notable silences

Regional leaders rushed to congratulate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday (local time) after the veteran leftist won Brazil's presidential election, halting the rightward wave that had swept Latin America since last year.

The most enthusiastic responses came from left-wing leaders in Mexico, Cuba and Uruguay, who all sent congratulatory messages welcoming Lula's achievement of a historic fourth term — the first in modern Brazilian history.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Long live democracy — the people of Brazil have won." Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel also took to X, writing: "On behalf of the Cuban government and people, I congratulate you on this historic victory." Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi said he had spoken with Lula by phone and congratulated him "on his electoral victory and on the democratic festival that the electoral process revealed."

Leaders from ideologically opposed right-wing governments also issued congratulatory statements.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz posted on X: "I congratulate President Lula on his election. Bolivia and Brazil are neighboring brother nations bound by a shared history and common challenges. We will continue working together to strengthen bilateral ties and create more opportunities."

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña likewise congratulated Lula on X, saying he paid tribute to "the Brazilian people for demonstrating a great democratic journey." Chilean President José Antonio Kast said the two countries "will build a bright future together" and pledged to "continue pursuing a diplomatic agenda that strengthens bilateral relations."

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori congratulated Lula and reaffirmed her commitment to "strengthening the strategic alliance and integration for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, as well as the sustainable development of the Amazon," ahead of the 200th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa also issued a brief statement congratulating Lula on his election.

These leaders have been at the forefront of the rightward wave sweeping Latin America since last year. Following Donald Trump's return to the White House for a second term, a succession of right-wing leaders took power across the region, aligning themselves with Washington. Several of their countries joined the Shield of the Americas, a multilateral security forum launched under Trump's leadership. Flávio Bolsonaro, the Brazilian senator who ran against Lula, had also pledged to join the Shield of the Americas if elected.

Despite their ideological differences with Lula, the right-wing leaders appear to have moved quickly to send congratulations for pragmatic diplomatic reasons, given Brazil's status as Latin America's largest economy.

However, Argentine President Javier Milei — so closely aligned with Trump that he has been dubbed "the Trump of South America" — sent no congratulatory message. Milei had backed Flávio Bolsonaro and leveled sharp attacks at Lula, calling him a "thief" and a "corrupt criminal." Lula had framed Trump's support for Bolsonaro through social media and Milei's attacks on him as violations of national sovereignty, making them a campaign issue.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had no political experience before taking office, also reportedly sent no congratulatory message to Lula.