With video support from Netanyahu and against a backdrop of sharp tension with the US: The election campaign in Brazil has begun
Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is running against Flávio Bolsonaro, who has the support of Netanyahu and Trump and has promised to continue the legacy of his imprisoned father.
News in brief: Flávio Bolsonaro has launched his campaign for the presidency of Brazil. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for Bolsonaro in a video message broadcast at the rally. The country's Foreign Ministry announced that it had blocked a visit by American officials intended to undermine the credibility of the elections. The big picture: Brazilians will head to the polls in October, and according to polls, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) is leading Bolsonaro by about 5%.
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, officially launched his candidacy for the presidency of Brazil on Saturday against a backdrop of growing tension between the country and the United States. At the launch event, a message of support from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Argentine President Javier Milei was broadcast. This occurred simultaneously with an announcement by the Brazilian Foreign Ministry that Brazil had blocked two American officials from entering the country to hold meetings related to the integrity of the elections.
"Flávio, my friend, I want to congratulate you on the official launch of your campaign. You are a great leader of Brazil and of the friendship between our peoples, and I know that you will take Brazil to new heights," Netanyahu said in a video message.
The words of support come against the backdrop of the anti-Israel line of the current president, Lula, and Bolsonaro's commitment to restore relations. Flávio's father, Jair Bolsonaro, is the former president of the country who is serving a 27-year prison sentence at home. Flávio Bolsonaro pledged to continue his father's legacy, cut taxes, and fight crime with an iron fist. The election rally also included a message created using AI from his father, and a speech by Argentine President Javier Milei.
Bolsonaro is also an ally of US President Donald Trump, with Trump and Lula suffering from strained relations. Against the backdrop of the tension, Brazil refused to grant entry visas to two officials from the US State Department, whom the Trump administration planned to send on a mission intended to cast doubt on the fairness and reliability of the country's electoral system, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced.
"This is a maneuver that is inconsistent with Brazilian democracy," a source in the country told the Washington Post. The newspaper reported that Brazil suspects the purpose of the American delegation was to meet with those who cast doubt on the electoral system and to produce a report that could be used to undermine the legitimacy of the country's electronic voting system. In addition, this week Trump imposed high tariffs on a range of products from Brazil - a move that Lula claims is intended to help Bolsonaro in the elections.
The integrity of the elections became a central issue in Brazil after Lula defeated Bolsonaro by less than 2% in the elections held in 2022. Bolsonaro tried to challenge the election results and claim fraud, and was convicted and imprisoned after he lost. Millions of Brazilians will vote at the polls on October 4.
