Lula Kicks Off Re-Election Bid as Brazil Raises Alarm Over Foreign Interference

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday formally launched what is expected to be his final re-election campaign.

ith his Workers’ Party casting the upcoming presidential election as a fight to defend the country’s sovereignty amid growing concerns over foreign political influence. The 80-year-old leader, who is seeking a seventh bid for Brazil’s highest office, used the party convention to outline his campaign priorities, including strengthening the country’s defence industry and protecting its strategic natural resources.

“We will have to be much more daring to change a lot of things in this country,” Lula told party members. He also stressed that Brazil’s rare mineral reserves would remain under national control, saying, “No Chinese, no American, no French will touch these resources without respecting Brazil’s sovereignty.”

Workers’ Party Raises Foreign Interference Concerns

Lula’s Workers’ Party repeatedly warned of possible foreign influence in Brazil’s October presidential election, arguing that the outcome would shape the political direction of Latin America. “This election in Brazil determines the future of Latin America,” Workers’ Party president Edinho Silva said at the convention.

The party expressed concerns about potential coordinated online disinformation campaigns, bot activity and attempts to undermine confidence in Brazil’s electronic voting system.

Lula’s expected challenger, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, has received public support from members of US President Donald Trump’s administration, Argentine President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Campaign to Focus on Economy

Lula enters the campaign with stronger polling numbers than he had earlier this year after attracting support from several centrist parties.

His campaign is expected to focus on proposals to reduce income tax for lower-income Brazilians and expand a debt-relief programme that has gained widespread popularity.

Earlier this week, Lula said he did not view Trump as an enemy despite recent diplomatic tensions.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who will once again be Lula’s running mate, defended Brazil’s electoral system during the convention.

“Brazil’s electronic voting system is so good that it doesn’t take votes from Argentines and Americans,” he said, in an apparent reference to Milei and Trump.

Rising Diplomatic Friction

Relations between Brasília and Washington have become increasingly strained after the Trump administration imposed new tariffs on Brazilian exports and designated two Brazilian criminal organisations as terrorist groups. The measures came after Flávio Bolsonaro visited the United States.

Meanwhile, Milei triggered a diplomatic row during a political event in São Paulo last month after criticising Lula and the Supreme Court justice who oversaw the trial and conviction of former president Jair Bolsonaro over an attempted coup.

Netanyahu has also publicly backed Lula’s political opponents through a recorded video message.

Lula has framed the election as a defence of Brazil’s sovereignty and recently held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring the importance of Brazil’s ties with one of its largest trading partners.

Brazilian authorities have also expressed concern over repeated attacks on the country’s electronic voting system. Last month, the foreign ministry denied visas to two US State Department officials amid reports they could interfere in election-related matters. The US State Department rejected those claims.