Brazil's President Lula launches reelection bid

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, or PT, on Sunday officially nominated incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election as he seeks a fourth term in office.

At the party's national convention in Sao Paulo, delegates formally approved the ticket pairing Lula with incumbent Vice President Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Socialist Party.

PT President Edinho Silva announced that the party had completed its candidate registration with the Superior Electoral Court.

"This election in Brazil determines the future of Latin America," Silva said during Sunday's convention. Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia have elected right-wing, conservative, or populist presidents in the recent past.

Addressing the convention, the 80-year-old Brazilian president said his administration's achievements will serve as a strong foundation for the campaign.

"We can proudly demonstrate to people everywhere what the federal government has accomplished," Lula said.

Under Brazil's electoral rules, political parties must confirm their candidates by Aug 5 and complete official registration by Aug 15. The official election campaign is scheduled to kick off on Aug 16.

Lula previously served two consecutive terms as president after winning the 2002 and 2006 elections. He returned to office after winning the 2022 election and began his third term in January 2023.

As a titan of the Latin American left, Lula is seeking a fourth and final term in office in a campaign casting him as a safe pair of hands in turbulent times and a bulwark against the global rise of the far right.

Lula and fellow leftist heavyweights leaned on the theme of protecting Brazil's sovereignty from external threats amid trade and diplomatic spats with Washington.

"I want to be prepared so that no one invades this country," Lula said.

Main rival

Lula's main election rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, eldest son of farright former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The 45-year-old senator stepped into the role after his father was convicted of plotting a coup to prevent Lula from taking power in 2023.

The Bolsonaro family is believed to ally with US President Donald Trump — who has backed several victorious right-wing candidates in Latin America — and Argentina's leader Javier Milei.

"In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong," Lula said last week.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed new tariffs on Brazilian exports and changed the designation of two local criminal groups to terrorist groups, which legal analysts say could hurt companies and open a path for other kinds of intervention.

Both moves took place after Flavio Bolsonaro visited the White House and the Department of State.

Last year, the Bolsonaro family welcomed tariffs the Trump administration imposed against Brazil in retaliation for the trial against Jair Bolsonaro.

PT politicians have expressed concerns about foreign-sponsored threats of coordinated automated bot campaigns and social media manipulation aimed at influencing voters and undermining trust in Brazil's electronic voting system.

A recent survey by the Datafolha institute showed that 48 percent of those polled would vote for Lula in a second round and 43 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro.

XINHUA-AGENCIES