Brazil again accuses Milei of election interference after Lula remark

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday accused President Javier Milei of attempting to interfere in Sunday’s presidential run-off after he said in a social media post his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, might “steal the election."

Bilateral relations were already strained in July, when Milei called the left-wing Brazilian a “thief” and a “convict” during the launch of the presidential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro, who will face Lula in a second round on October 25.

On Tuesday, Argentina’s President again attacked Lula. “I hope his latest dirty campaign trick doesn’t involve stealing the election... left-wing thief,” Milei wrote on X.

Brasilia rejected the Argentine leader’s “offences,” saying they “constitute a new and unacceptable attempt at external interference in the Brazilian democratic process."

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry had already downgraded diplomatic relations with Argentina by recalling its ambassador from Buenos Aires following Milei’s July remarks.

Lula, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, was imprisoned for corruption before his conviction was annulled on procedural grounds.

Tuesday’s post was “unacceptable, unbalanced and inconsistent with the position that the head of state of a friendly country should adopt,” Brazil’s Foreign Ministry added.

Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, the son of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, won the first round with 47 percent of the vote, ahead of Lula, 80, on 45 percent.

– TIMES/AFP