Lula's Brazil Win Draws Global Praise, Bolsonaro Rejects Result

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday's runoff election, defeating right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro by over four million votes and securing a second term. Bolsonaro refused to accept the results and announced he would demand their annulment. International congratulations poured in from leaders across the political spectrum, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Von der Leyen said democracy and multilateralism won, while Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez called it the start of a global progressive revival. Lula's victory halted a recent trend of right-wing presidential wins in Latin America, keeping Brazil and Mexico under leftist leadership. Argentine President Javier Milei, a Lula critic, had not commented, while Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who backed Bolsonaro, said the people's will must be respected.