Brazilian government calls for probe into US funding of far-right causes

A report stating that the Trump administration directed funds towards right-wing groups comes ahead of Brazil’s presidential election.Brazil’s attorney general has called on law enforcement to investigate alleged efforts by the United States to interfere in the country’s domestic politics through the diversion of funds to far-right causes.Attorney General Jorge Messias called for the probe on Thursday, one day after the British newspaper The Guardian published a story suggesting that the administration of United States President Donald Trump planned to award $1m to right-wing civil groups opposing the Brazilian Supreme Court.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Lula warns against foreign interference in Brazil election at UNlist 2 of 3Brazil’s Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro still essentially tied in new polllist 3 of 3A political dynasty? Why the Bolsonaro family dominates Brazil’s right wingend of listMessias stated in a social media post that foreign meddling “cannot be tolerated” and that the report represented “an important alert for Brazilian sovereignty”.“The information is especially serious in light of Brazil’s electoral process and the recent episodes of external pressure on our institutions,” the attorney general added.The report comes amid a tense presidential election in which leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is seeking re-election.Lula has sought to focus attention on efforts Trump has undertaken to boost the prospects of far-right allies across Latin America, warning of threats to regional sovereignty.Trump has endorsed multiple right-wing candidates ahead of elections across the region, sometimes hinging the possibility of economic support on the voting results.He has also cultivated close relations with the family of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula in the last presidential election.Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, is a frontrunner in the race to challenge Lula this year. Recent polls have shown Lula and Bolsonaro virtually tied ahead of the first round of voting on October 4.