President Fernández flies to São Paulo to congratulate Lula on election win

President Alberto Fernández flew off to São Paulo on Monday morning ahead of a meeting with Brazil's new president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The meeting will take place around midday, official sources told the Télam state news agency.

Fernández is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, they added.

Lula emerged victorious from Sunday's second-round run-off in Brazil's presidential elections, defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. The left-wing leader took 50.9 percent compared to 49.1 percent for his far-right opponent.

Fernández and the president-elect spoke by telephone on Sunday night after the victory was confirmed.

"I'll be waiting for you tomorrow [Monday] to give you a hug," Lula told the Argentine leader during that conversation, according to official sources.

Following confirmation of Sunday's result, Fernández had hailed the result as one that "brings hope to Latin America."

"Your victory opens a new time for the history of Latin America. A time of hope and a future that begins today," he said.

"After so many injustices you have lived through, the people of Brazil have elected you and democracy has triumphed. Latin America is dreaming," he added.

The is was a stunning turnaround for Lula, who left office in 2010 as the most popular president in Brazilian history. He was later imprisoned for 18 months on since-quashed corruption charges. 

– TIMES/AFP