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Brazil's Lula faces pressure as he enters seventh presidential race
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Brazil’s Workers’ Party confirmed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s bid for reelection in October, marking his seventh run for the presidency amid mounting foreign pressure and political tensions.
- Lula emphasized protecting Brazil’s sovereignty over its defense industry and rare minerals, rejecting foreign interference from countries like China, the U.S., and France.
- Rival Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has received support from figures including former U.S. President Donald Trump, Argentina’s Javier Milei, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Concerns have been raised by Lula’s party about foreign-backed social media manipulation and attempts to undermine Brazil’s electronic voting system, with Bolsonaro’s camp also casting doubts on the system’s integrity.
- Lula’s campaign focuses on income tax reforms favoring low-income earners and debt forgiveness, while he seeks to strengthen Brazil’s role in Mercosur and maintain strong trade relations, notably with China.
