Brazil: Lula, Bolsonaro return to strongholds to launch runs for president

Brazil’s two main presidential candidates have inaugurated their campaigns by mustering supporters in their political strongholds ahead of what is expected to be a fierce October election.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with nostalgia to more than 10,000 supporters on Sunday at the Vila Euclides Stadium outside Sao Paulo – a city where he rose to political fame 47 years ago as a metalworkers’ union leader during the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship.

The 80-year-old, wearing a hat after a skin cancer diagnosis, insisted Brazil needs more of his policies.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, age 45 and one of the sons of former President Jair Bolsonaro, gathered with thousands of voters on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. His father, under house arrest following his conviction for an attempted coup, did not attend the rally.

Lula echoed his own earlier comments denouncing foreign interference in Brazil’s politics. His allies have accused the United States government of seeking to boost Flavio Bolsonaro’s bid with measures such as raising tariffs on Brazilian exports and revoking the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington.

Speaking about Brazil’s vast reserves of rare minerals, Lula said, “No one [abroad] will tap our minerals. We are going to tap them for the benefit of the Brazilian people.”

Bolsonaro argued that he is “the only one who can sit with the United States, with China, with Israel, with the Middle East, with India and with Argentina to make the best and biggest trade deals for our nation.”

His party’s convention was attended by Argentina’s President Javier Milei. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several members of the Trump administration have expressed support for him.