Lula’s Victory Is Breath of Fresh Air for Latin America: Sheinbaum
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Oct. 26, 2026. Photo EFE
The Mexican president praised Brazil’s election result after the leftist leader defeated far-right Senator Bolsonaro.
On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s re-election in Brazil, after the leftist leader defeated far-right Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro in a runoff election.
“Very happy about Lula’s victory in Brazil. Many, many congratulations to President Lula and the people of Brazil. It is a breath of fresh air for Latin America and the Caribbean. We are very, very happy,” Sheinbaum said during her morning news conference.
Her remarks came a day after the Mexican president congratulated Lula through her social media accounts, celebrating the election result with the message: “Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won. Congratulations, President Lula!”
With the Brazilian president’s victory, Mexico and Brazil, the two largest economies in Latin America, will maintain leftist governments in a regional landscape marked by U.S.-backed far-right rulers.
Sheinbaum, who has expressed her political affinity with Lula, had ruled out on October the 5th that a potential defeat for the Brazilian leader would lead to greater isolation for Mexico in Latin America.
On Sunday, the Workers’ Party leader defeated Flavio Bolsonaro with nearly 52% of the vote and staged an unprecedented comeback: Lula da Silva became the first candidate to win a presidential runoff after finishing second in the first round.