Brazil accuses Milei of election-meddling for calling Lula ‘thief’

Brazil’s government accused Javier Milei of attempting to interfere in its Sunday presidential run-off after the Argentine leader suggested Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva may try to steal the election.

Milei, a supporter of right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, called Lula a “thief” on Tuesday.

“I hope his last dirty campaign trick doesn’t include stealing the election,” Milei wrote on X reposting a clip from a recent Lula TV interview.

In a statement, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said the comments marked an “unacceptable attempt at foreign interference.” The portfolio went on to accuse Milei of “reiterating lies spread by those who lost the elections and orchestrated a failed coup four years ago.”

Milei is a close ally of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and his father Jair Bolsonaro, the former president who was convicted of attempting a coup following his narrow 2022 loss to Lula.

The episode will deepen a rift between the neighbouring nations that began in July, when Milei also called Lula a “thief” while in São Paulo for the official kick-off of Bolsonaro’s campaign.

Brazil recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations in response, a strong diplomatic gesture that had never happened between the two neighbours. It also summoned Argentina’s envoy to Brasília to express “revulsion” over the comments.

Milei and Lula have served as economic and political rivals since the libertarian economist won Argentina’s presidential election in 2023. A team of Lula campaign strategists worked for Milei’s opponent in that race, and they’ve had frosty relations ever since.

Other right-wing leaders have come out in support of Bolsonaro, though none have gone as far as Milei. The Brazilian senator hosted a YouTube live with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella to discuss public security earlier this month, and in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the two politicians vowed to deepen ties.

Brazilians vote on Sunday in a run-off vote with polls suggesting Bolsonaro and Lula are locked in a tight race. Bolsonaro surprisingly finished ahead of Lula in the October 4 first round, and a victory would continue a right-wing wave that has seen allies of Milei and US President Donald Trump win recent elections in Chile, Colombia and Peru.