Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress MP, took to X to applaud Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return to the presidency after a tight run‑off that left the former factory worker victorious over far‑right contender Flavio Bolsonaro. He called the outcome a historic moment for democratic participation.
Lula, 80, reclaimed the office with a narrow margin, reversing his defeat in the first round and marking a rare swing back for the left in Latin America, where right‑wing candidates have dominated recent elections.
The election itself was marred by a dispute over polling hours, with a Supreme Court justice extending the vote by two hours after both campaigns petitioned amid concerns over transport restrictions and inclement weather.
Tharoor warned that Lula’s independent foreign policy could strain Brazil‑US relations, pointing out that Washington had openly backed Bolsonaro and that trade and tariff friction could persist.
In response, Lula thanked voters, pledged to uphold national sovereignty, and promised to broaden citizen involvement in decision‑making, declaring Brazil’s future will not be ‘no one’s backyard’.