Brazil's Lula snubs Milei's invite to presidential inauguration in Argentina

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will not attend Javier Milei's inauguration in Argentina, his office confirmed Tuesday, despite the libertarian president-elect attempting to smooth relations with his leftist neighbour.

"Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will attend" Milei's inauguration Sunday instead of Lula, a source in the Brazilian president's office told the AFP news agency.

Self-described anarcho-capitalist Milei called Lula "corrupt" and a "communist" during his fiery presidential campaign.

But he toned down his rhetoric after winning Argentina's November 19 election run-off..

After Lula advisers said the Brazilian leader felt "offended" by Milei's remarks and would not attend his swearing-in, the president-elect appeared to take a more pragmatic turn toward Brazil, Argentina's top trade partner.

He sent his future foreign minister, Diana Mondino, to Brasilia on November 26 with a personal letter to Lula inviting him to attend his inauguration, according to Brazilian officials.

Despite the letter, Lula's office stuck to what it had already stated the day after Milei's victory: the Brazilian leader will not attend.

Lula's arch-rival, far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), has accepted an invitation from Milei to attend to his swearing-in.

The former Brazilian leader said of the libertarian outsider's victory that "hope is shining bright again in South America."

Bolsonaro chose not to attend the inauguration of Argentina's Peronist president, Alberto Fernández, back in 2019.

Fernández is a close ally of Lula.

– TIMES/AFP