Presidents Celebrate Lula Win as INE Faces Audit Calls

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum praised Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil’s presidential run-off election, while calling for an investigation into alleged abuses and privileges at Mexico’s National Electoral Institute. The two developments put electoral power and the institutions that administer it squarely in view.

A win celebrated from the presidency

At her Monday mañanera, Sheinbaum called Lula’s victory “very important” and described it as “the triumph of a president, of a people’s movement, of a government that represents its people.” She added: “It’s the defeat of a rightist movement.” She said she was “very, very happy” about Lula’s victory and called it “a breath of fresh air for Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Lula, the 80-year-old incumbent Brazilian president, won the run-off after finishing behind Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round earlier that month. Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. The account described Lula’s victory as halting a right-wing wave in the region, as Argentina, Chile, Colombia and El Salvador were ruled by right-wing governments.

Brazil is Latin America’s most populous country. Sheinbaum said Lula’s administration was “similar” to hers and said the victory made her administration happy. She planned to speak with Lula at midday Monday to congratulate him. A social media post said the two would evaluate when to resume joint projects, including collaboration between PEMEX and Petrobras.

The political alignment is being discussed at the level of presidents and governments. The source describes Lula’s win as leaving Sheinbaum’s administration with an important ideological ally; it does not report a community-led response or mutual-aid effort around the election. The movement Sheinbaum praised won through a presidential run-off, while the immediate next steps she identified were a call between leaders and possible joint projects.

Inside the electoral apparatus

Guadalupe Taddei announced Sunday that she would resign as president of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute, a role she had held since 2023. Her announcement came amid corruption allegations concerning lucrative INE contracts awarded to companies linked to José Alfredo Hernández Casillas, described as reportedly close to the outgoing INE president. Recent media reports said Taddei had a close personal relationship with Hernández. Those are allegations and reports, not findings stated in the account.

Sheinbaum called Taddei’s decision “good” and said an investigation and audit were needed. “Obviously, an investigation has to be carried out. ... There has to be an audit in order to review the suspicions or the allegations there have been regarding abuses or privileges within the INE,” she said. She reiterated that there must be “no hint of corruption” at the INE.

The INE’s work, Sheinbaum said, would continue without interruption. Federal, state and municipal elections are scheduled for June 6, 2027, and the electoral process officially began in September 2026. The account reports calls for scrutiny of the institution, but no change to its role or the coming election schedule.

Growth figures, and who gets the value

Sheinbaum called Mexico’s 3.5% year-over-year economic growth in August “very good news.” INEGI reported that the economy grew 0.6% in August compared with July. Preliminary data published by INEGI showed 3.7% year-over-year growth in September.

Sheinbaum cited construction, including housing and public infrastructure projects, as a driver. INEGI said construction activity rose 7.9% in August from the same month a year earlier. She also pointed to electronics production.

Mexico’s export revenue had surged that year, largely because shipments to the United States of AI servers and other computer and electronic equipment increased sharply. But much of the content in those products came from Asia, particularly Taiwan, limiting Mexico’s share of their total value added. The figures describe growth and exports; they also show that rising shipments don’t mean Mexico captures all the value in what it sells.