Politico Pro Free From
EU leaders welcome Lula's return as Brazil's president
The left-winger beat incumbent Jair Bolsonaro with 50.9 percent of the vote to 49.1.
Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva waves supporters after being elected president of Brazil | Mauro Horita/Getty Images
October 31, 2022 9:16 am CET
European leaders are breathing a diplomatic sigh of relief, after left-winger Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva on Sunday defeated far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the second round of Brazil's presidential election.
Lula, who was previously Brazilian president from 2003-2010 and was controversially imprisoned in 2018, won Sunday's ballot with 50.9 percent of the vote to Bolsonaro's 49.1. "We are going to live in new times of peace, love and hope," the president-elect said in his victory speech.
Lula promised a dramatic U-turn in Brazil's environmental policies, having vowed during his campaign to protect the Amazon rainforest, which suffered from high levels of deforestation under Bolsonaro. In a victory tweet on Sunday, Lula said "Brazil is ready to resume its leading role in the fight against the climate crisis," adding that he planned to "aim for zero deforestation."
That dramatic change in policy may unlock negotiations on ratifying a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur, officially finalized in 2019, but which had been held back mostly as a result of European concerns, particularly from French President Emmanuel Macron, over the fate of the Amazon rainforest.
How activists shaped Sweden's NATO debacle
By Elisabeth Braw
World's cartoonists on this week's events
Orbán to veto EU sanctions against Russian nuclear sector
By Victor Jack
"Congratulations, my dear Lula, for your election opening a new page of Brazil's history," Macron tweeted overnight. "Together, we will join forces to take up our many common challenges and rebuild the bond of friendship between our two countries."
Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was also quick to congratulate Lula, saying: "Brazil has decided to bet on progress and hope. Let's work together for social justice, equality and against climate change."
"I look forward to working with you to address pressing global challenges, from food security to trade and climate change," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
U.S. President Joe Biden also chimed in, saying: "I send my congratulations to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections. I look forward to working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years ahead."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also congratulated the incoming Brazilian leader, saying: "I believe in an active collaboration with a long-time friend of Ukraine, and in the strengthening of the strategic partnership to ensure democracy, peace, security and prosperity in Ukraine, Brazil and worldwide!"
Ukraine had a poor relationship with Bolsonaro, who adopted a "neutral" position toward Russia's invasion. But things could prove difficult with Lula as well, with the president-elect claiming in an interview with Time in May that Zelenskyy "is as responsible as Putin for the war ... Because in the war, there's not just one person guilty. Saddam Hussein was as guilty as Bush" for the war in Iraq."
According to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Lula in a message: "The vote's results confirm your high political authority." He added: "I expect that our joint efforts will ensure further development of constructive Russia-Brazil cooperation in all areas."
This article was updated.
More from ... Jules Darmanin
1 Ukraine got its tanks. Now it wants jet fighters too
2 Don't say 'the French' as it's offensive, AP says
3 Babiš plays on fears of war with Russia in long-shot Czech presidency bid
4 Rishi Sunak walks Brexit tightrope as protocol deal nears
5 Nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula are accelerating dramatically
EU aims to inflict more pain on Russia with second oil price cap
Russian diamonds lose their sparkle in Europe
SPONSORED CONTENT Playing poker with pathogens
From across the pond Nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula are accelerating dramatically
Italy signs $8B gas deal with Libya
By Jones Hayden
Petr Pavel to become next Czech president
By Mark Scott
Ukraine launching campaign to bar Russian athletes from Paris Olympics
US VP Harris headed to Munich conference before Ukraine war's 1-year mark
January 28, 2023 10:33 am CET
By Alexander Ward
Climate change Democracy Elections Mercosur Security War in Ukraine
Brazil Iraq Russia Spain Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron Jair Bolsonaro Pedro Sánchez Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskyy