Vladimir Putin congratulates Lula da Silva for winning Brazil's presidential election

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Brazilian president-elect and leader of the Workers' Party Lula da Silva on winning a third term as president Monday morning, according to the state controlled TASS news agency.

“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on winning the presidential election. The vote’s results confirm your high political authority. I expect that our joint efforts will ensure further development of constructive Russia-Brazil cooperation in all areas,” Putin wrote in his message.

Lula, known widely as an advocate of far Left ideological ideas unseated conservative incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a nail biting close election that was Brazil’s closest in history.

Brazil held its second vote, a presidential election runoff on Sunday Oct 30.

Lula da Silva received 50.9% of the vote with 99.99% of ballots counted, while Bolsonaro, received 49.1% of the national vote.

Putin said he has hopes to solidify Brazil-Russia ties, and commented that the country’s election result demonstrated Lula's "high political authority.”