▲ President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth term in office, has fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump, telling him, "Do not interfere in Brazil's election."
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, after attending the G7 summit, President Lula stated, "President Trump has the right to his own ideological preferences, but the Brazilian election is a matter for Brazil."
President Lula's remarks came after President Trump commented during a press conference that Brazil had become "somewhat politically dangerous," adding, "They play pretty tough, but there is no country that plays tougher than the United States."
This is interpreted as a reaction to the Brazilian Supreme Court's sentencing of Eduardo Bolsonaro, the third son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, to prison on the 16th (local time).
The Brazilian Supreme Court sentenced Eduardo to four years and two months in prison for lobbying U.S. political circles to impose sanctions on the Brazilian judiciary and other institutions.
President Lula pointed out the close relationship between President Trump and the Bolsonaro family, stating, "I don't care if he (Trump) continues to like former President Bolsonaro, his son, or his grandson. Everyone has their own preferences." He emphasized, "But he must not interfere in the Brazilian election."
He also sarcastically added that "(President Trump) needs to learn from Brazil's civilized elections."
President Lula is running for a fourth term in the upcoming presidential election in October.
President Lula's current rival is Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
He is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and the older brother of Eduardo, who was sentenced to prison.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.