Brazil’s Lula launches reelection bid as concerns rise over foreign interference

Brazil’s Lula launches reelection bid as concerns rise over foreign interference 1 of 3 | Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a visit to the Andaraí Hospital, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) 2 of 3 | Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, center left, and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, center right, stand alongside Brazilian Socialist Party President Joao Campos during the Brazilian Socialist Party convention, where Alckmin was formally nominated as Lula’s running mate for the October presidential election, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) 3 of 3 | Brazilian Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, right, handles an oversized pair of scissors, accompanied by Argentina’s President Javier Milei during the Liberal Party convention where Bolsonaro was confirmed as the party’s presidential candidate, in Sao Paulo, Saturday, July 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini) By MAURICIO SAVARESE Updated 6:35 PM MESZ, August 2, 2026 Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit SAO PAULO (AP) — What is very likely to be the last reelection bid of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was confirmed on Sunday by his Workers’ Party as the 80-year-old leader faces increasing pressure from foreign leaders ahead of October’s elections. It will be his seventh race for the top job. Lula’s rival, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, has enjoyed open support from members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Brazil’s president said in his party convention speech he wants to boost his country’s defense industry, protect its rare minerals, and claimed “no Chinese, no American, no French will touch” these resources without respecting the South American nation’s sovereignty. “We will have to be much more daring to change a lot of things in this country,” Lula said. Other members of his party highlighted the risk of foreign intervention in Brazil’s elections, pointing to Trump and Milei. However, “This election in Brazil determines the future of Latin America,” Edinho Silva, the Workers’ Party chairman, said during Sunday’s convention. Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia have elected Trump-inspired presidents in the recent past. Flávio Bolsonaro’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was an ally of Trump but is now serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for an attempted coup. Brazil’s Flávio Bolsonaro secures presidential bid despite challenges 3 MIN READ 64 Brazil’s government denies visas to US officials over upcoming elections 5 MIN READ 185 Brazil recalls ambassador after Argentina’s President Milei insults government officials 5 MIN READ 185 Lula has managed to draw centrist parties away from his right-wing adversary and arrives at his party’s convention with higher popularity in the polls than six months ago. His campaign is specifically boosting a change to Brazil’s income tax system that charges less to people on low incomes and a debt forgiveness program that has quickly become very popular. Workers’ Party politicians have expressed worries about foreign-sponsored threats of coordinated automated bot campaigns and social media manipulation designed to influence voters and undermine trust in Brazil’s electronic voting system. On Wednesday at the party convention, Lula said he doesn’t want Trump as an enemy. Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who will run again alongside Lula, said Sunday that Brazil’s electronic voting system “is so good that it doesn’t take votes from Argentines and Americans,” in a reference to Milei and Trump. The Trump administration has also imposed new tariffs on Brazilian exports and changed the designation of two local criminal groups to terrorist groups, which legal analysts say could hurt companies and open a path for other kinds of intervention. Both moves took place after Sen. Bolsonaro visited the White House and the Department of State when was this? Argentina’s Milei came to Sao Paulo on July 25 to speak at Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party convention and sparked a diplomatic crisis when he insulted Lula and the Supreme Court justice who oversaw the elder Bolsonaro’s trial and conviction over the attempted coup. Netanyahu recorded a video in support of the president’s adversary. Lula has said he is defending Brazil’s national sovereignty. He recently held a long call with China’s President Xi Jinping, the leader of one of Brazil’s most important trading partners. His supporters say he could lead South American trade bloc Mercosur into striking deals with partners worldwide. Though Brazil is by far the biggest economy in the group, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay are also members. Like his father, Sen. Bolsonaro has recently tried to sow unfounded doubts about Brazil’s voting system. Those statements have raised concerns at Brazil’s foreign ministry, which in July denied visas to two U.S. Department of State officials reportedly due to fears they sought to do the same. The U.S. Department of State denied that claim in a statement. MAURICIO SAVARESE Savarese is a reporter since 2004, with a vast experience covering soccer and politics. English, Español, Português, some French and a bit of Italian. twitter instagram facebook mailto