Brazil's Lula launches fourth term bid as Trump looms over campaign
The former metalworker and unionist made a dramatic comeback when he returned to power three years ago after a stint in jail on corruption charges that were later annulled, and two previous terms from 2003-2010.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin hold hands during the national convention of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) in Brasilia on July 29, 2026, where the party officially endorsed Lula da Silva and Alckmin's candidature for the 2026 elections. Brazil will hold general elections on October 4, 2026. (Photos by AFP)
________________
SAO PAULO — At 80, President Lula on Sunday launches his re-election bid, casting himself as a defender of Brazil's "sovereignty" as pressure from President Donald Trump's administration casts a shadow over the campaign.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist titan of Latin American politics who is loved and despised in near-equal measure in Brazil, will launch his seventh bid for the presidency at a convention of his Worker's Party (PT) in Sao Paulo attended by around 3,000 people.
The former metalworker and unionist made a dramatic comeback when he returned to power three years ago after a stint in jail on corruption charges that were later annulled, and two previous terms from 2003-2010.
He is seeking a fourth term in office in the October election.
The convention centre was awash in red, the colour of the PT, and opened with government ministers praising Lula, while audience members held up signs reading: "Brazil will not surrender."
Supporters praise Lula's anti-poverty and social programs.
"I'm here today because Lula's policies changed my life and my family's. Thanks to him, we own our own home today," Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker, told AFP.
Lula's main election rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, eldest son of far-right 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.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greets patients and medical staff during a visit to the Federal Hospital of Andarai in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 28, 2026.
The Bolsonaro family is allied with Trump, who has backed several victorious right-wing candidates in Latin America.
"In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong," said Lula.
In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian goods, alleging unfair trade practices which Brasilia denies.
Last year, encouraged by another of Jair Bolsonaro's sons, Eduardo, Washington hiked tariffs in retaliation for the trial against the former leader. These were largely lifted after diplomatic efforts.
"Lula represents the fight for democracy. Today, Lula represents the anti-Trump, the anti-war stance. He is a man of peace, a man who wants to defend the marginalised," said Carlos Lupi, president of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT), at the convention.
'An external enemy'
He has derided Flavio Bolsonaro as a "traitor to the nation."
"The sovereignty message comes at the perfect time for Lula. It allows him to identify an external enemy to blame for some of the problems we are facing," Leonardo Paz, a political science professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, told AFP.
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.
In 2022, Lula beat Jair Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin.
The veteran leftist's administration boasts solid economic growth and record employment levels. But families complain about the cost of living, and the fiscal deficit is worsening.
The incumbent is also on the back foot when it comes to Brazilians' top concern: security.
Tens of millions of people live in poor neighbourhoods controlled by organised crime gangs.
Corruption allegations have touched both campaigns.
Flavio Bolsonaro is under scrutiny for seeking money from a banker accused of major financial fraud to fund a film about his father.
This week, a probe was opened into one of Lula's sons, nicknamed "Lulinha," who is suspected of corruption and influence peddling.