Netanyahu congratulates Brazil presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on first election round

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on his victory in the first round of the presidential election on Thursday night, according to the Prime Minister's Office. Netanyahu also extended an invitation to Bolsonaro to visit Israel, while Bolsonaro invited the prime minister to Brazil.

The two leaders expressed their intention to strengthen the deep friendship between their nations, as part of Israel's evolving relations with South American countries and the strengthening of ties under Netanyahu's leadership. The conversation between the two leaders was described as "extremely warm" and was attended by Eduardo Bolsonaro, Flavio Bolsonaro's brother and adviser.

Flavio Bolsonaro is set to face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff later in the month, after securing a slight lead in the first round of voting against a backdrop of concerns over the cost of living, corruption, and insecurity in daily life for Brazilians. The election comes in the wake of a series of victories for right-wing parties aligned with US President Donald Trump across Latin America.