Photo: Agência Brasil.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his September 22 address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn against foreign interference in Brazil’s October election and reject an outside role in the country’s fight against organized crime. He said Brazil would not allow “internal and external enemies of democracy” to undermine the vote. The speech did not name a foreign government or political rival in that passage.
Lula also defended Brazil’s electoral system as modern and robust and warned against disinformation during the campaign. Reuters reported that the comments appeared aimed at Washington and at domestic political opponents, but that characterization was the agency’s assessment rather than a named target in the speech. Lula said candidates enjoyed broad freedom of expression, while arguing that some could use that freedom to align with foreign interests contrary to Brazil’s.
On organized crime, Lula argued that international cooperation should not become intervention in Brazil’s internal affairs. His remarks followed a dispute over U.S. designation of Brazilian criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations and over calls for a more prominent American role in the region. The speech set out Lula’s position on sovereignty and cooperation, without detailing a new policy or agreement.
The address came during a presidential campaign in which relations with the United States, tariff measures and the role of foreign governments had become contested issues. Reuters noted that polls showed Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro statistically tied in a potential runoff.