With the October election campaign now fully underway, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stepped onto the stage in Sao Paulo and delivered a message aimed as much at anxious voters as at foreign capitals: he says he is ready for the fight — and “in great shape” to do it — even as pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration hangs over the race.
A towering figure of the Latin American left, Mr Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth — and, he says, final — term, positioning himself as a steady hand in a world he and his allies describe as increasingly unstable and tugged rightward.
No one at the Workers’ Party (PT) convention mentioned Mr Trump by name. Still, the gathering repeatedly returned to the idea of defending Brazil’s sovereignty, a pointed theme amid trade and diplomatic disputes with Washington.
“I want to be prepared so that no one invades this country,” Mr Lula said, calling for greater defense investment.
Mr Lula is considered a titan of the Latin American left
The former metalworker and union leader completed a dramatic political comeback when he returned to power three years ago, after serving time in jail on corruption convictions that were later annulled. He previously governed Brazil from 2003-2010.
In Brazil, Mr Lula remains a polarizing figure — admired and reviled in almost equal measure — and his most recent victory came by the narrowest of margins.
Backers credit PT social programs with lifting millions out of poverty. Critics, noting the party has governed for around 17 of the past 24 years, argue the country still struggles with entrenched problems including crime and corruption.
“I’m here today because Lula’s policies changed my life and my family’s. Thanks to him, we own our own home today,” said Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker.
Lula’s last lap
In his speech, Mr Lula insisted he has the stamina for another term, saying his workout routine keeps him “in great shape”.
“I want to fight against old age. I don’t want to be shuffling along,” he said.
Brazil’s constitution permits presidents to serve two consecutive terms. After a break, they can return to run again, with no lifetime cap on total terms served.
Former finance minister Fernando Haddad, who is running for governor of Sao Paulo state, framed the election as a test of experience in dangerous times.
“The world is in turmoil. Today, we face wars and the rise of the far right. In times of rough seas like these, you need a reliable, experienced sailor,” Mr Haddad said.
Former finance minister Fernando Haddad also addressed the convention
Mr Lula said he does not intend to seek office again after a fourth term, saying he and his wife Rosangela, 59, would be “going on vacation to focus on romance for another 20 years”.
His chief rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The 45-year-old senator became the standard-bearer after his father was convicted of plotting a coup to prevent Mr Lula from taking power in 2023.
The Bolsonaro family is allied with Mr Trump — who has backed several winning right-wing candidates across Latin America — and Argentina’s contentious libertarian president, Javier Milei.
“In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong,” Mr Lula said last week.
At the convention, he also pointed to international interest in Brazil’s vast deposits of critical minerals, warning that “neither the Chinese, nor the Americans, nor the French are going to get their hands on our rare earths”.
Mr Milei with Flavio Bolsonaro
Mr Milei, meanwhile, has revived his war of words with Mr Lula after igniting a diplomatic dispute last week by calling the Brazilian president a criminal.
“He’s a thief, he’s corrupt, he’s been convicted of theft and corruption, he’s been in prison, so it’s true that we can call him a convict,” Mr Milei said of Mr Lula during an interview on LN+.
Asked why he had such aggressiveness towards Mr Lula, Mr Milei retorted: “Don’t you think it’s aggressive when someone steals from you? Calling a thief a ‘thief’ is far less serious than the act of stealing itself.”
“They released him [Lula] because of an administrative error, not because he’s innocent. Therefore, he’s a thief and a corrupt official,” the Argentine leader insisted.
“I’m doing this because I’m a champion of the ideals of freedom,” he added.
Imposed tariffs
In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian goods, alleging unfair trade practices.
Last year, the Bolsonaro family welcomed tariffs Mr Trump’s administration imposed against Brazil in retaliation for the trial against Jair Bolsonaro. These were largely lifted after diplomatic efforts.
At the PT convention, Lula’s vice-president Geraldo Alckmin referred to the coup plot and Jair Bolsonaro’s questioning of Brazil’s electronic vote system, which Flavio Bolsonaro raised concerns about last week.
“Anyone who doesn’t believe in the popular vote shouldn’t even run for president. The electronic voting machine is so competent that it won’t accept votes from Argentines or Americans,” he said.
A recent survey by the Datafolha institute showed that 48% of those polled would vote for Mr Lula in a second round and 43 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro.
