By Akani Nkuna
President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his re-election for a historic fourth term, describing the victory as a significant triumph for the Global South and progressive forces across the world.
“This victory will echo beyond the shores of Brazil. It is a victory for the Global South and progressive forces throughout the world. We affirm our commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries and working closely together in all multilateral fora to forge a just and better world order underpinned by solidarity and adherence to international law,” he said in a statement issued on Monday.
Lula, 80, overcame a first-round defeat to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, to narrowly win the run-off election with 51.8% of the vote against Bolsonaro’s 48.2%.
ALSO READ: Johannesburg Water maintains Bez Valley water warning despite safe test results
Speaking to journalists in Brasília after the election results on Sunday evening, Bolsonaro refused to recognise Lula’s run-off victory, alleging that some of the results in certain states were not a true reflection of the election.
He said that there was an alleged violation of constitutional principles after the Supreme Federal Court ordered a nationwide two-hour extension of voting, citing concerns of voters having trouble reaching polling stations.
“What I have to say now is that it is impossible, it is impossible to recognise the election results in the context in which these things happened. We will use our legal team to request the annulment of these elections,” said Bolsonaro.
ALSO READ: De Kock: Askaris were central to apartheid-era death squads
Several global leaders, including President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani, have come out to congratulate Lula with messages of support on their X media accounts.
Meanwhile, the EFF says Lula’s victory reaffirms the importance of government intervention in tackling inequality, reducing poverty and unemployment, supporting working-class communities and protecting the Amazon rainforest through social assistance programmes.
The party said his victory was a relief for democracy, whilst criticising Bolsonaro, saying that his alignment with US President Donald Trump was a threat to the people and interests of Brazil.
“At a time when the United States is using economic pressure to advance its interests, Brazil’s right to pursue an independent foreign policy and strengthen BRICS and the Global South must be defended,” said the EFF in a statement on Monday.
