The Brazilian government has summoned its ambassador back from Buenos Aires after Argentine President Javier Milei labeled Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a convict and a thief. These remarks occurred on Sunday during a São Paulo event supporting Flávio Bolsonaro, who is preparing for an upcoming presidential bid. While Milei avoided naming Lula directly, he castigated the Brazilian leader while standing beside Flávio, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Milei insisted that only Bolsonaro could halt the current administration.
Brazilian diplomatic officials blasted the comments, characterizing them as an attack on the nation, its citizens, and democratic systems. Lula addressed the incident by stating that he remains focused on governance and will not tolerate foreign interference in domestic affairs. Consequently, Ambassador Julio Bitelli was ordered to return to Brazil shortly after the outburst. Furthermore, Milei insulted Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, calling him a derogatory name after being denied access to visit the former president during his house arrest.
Lula’s past legal history includes a 2018 conviction for corruption that resulted in an 18-month prison sentence. However, the Supreme Court of Brazil overturned these rulings in 2021, which facilitated his 2022 victory over Jair Bolsonaro. The former president, Jair Bolsonaro, currently faces separate legal challenges related to efforts to retain power after his electoral defeat.
