Lula’s comments come amid expectations that Biden will face former President Donald Trump in a November rematch….reports Asian Lite News
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his hope for U.S. President Joe Biden’s re-election, citing Biden’s role in safeguarding democracy globally and in the United States.
“Although I am not a U.S. voter, I think it’s obvious that Biden is a greater guarantee for the survival of democracy in the world and the United States,” Lula told local TV channel RedeTV.
Lula’s comments come amid expectations that Biden will face former President Donald Trump in a November rematch. Lula, known for defeating Jair Bolsonaro, akin to Trump, in Brazil’s presidential race, hailed Biden for his advocacy of workers’ rights, citing their strong rapport.
Both leaders initiated efforts to enhance workers’ rights and promote greener energy, underscoring their collaboration in the Global Biofuel Alliance. However, tensions arose over Gaza, with Lula accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians, a stance rebuked by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Biden previously supported Lula during a crisis in Brazil when Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed government institutions, evoking comparisons to the U.S. Capitol invasion under Trump.
Lula frequently draws parallels between Bolsonaro and Trump, labelling Bolsonaro as a “copy” of the former U.S. leader. Biden’s stance as a defender of democracy aligns with Lula’s hopes for global stability and democratic resilience.
Bolsonaro denies coup plot
Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil, led a massive rally in Sao Paulo on Sunday, vehemently denying accusations of involvement in a coup plot to cling to power, CNN reported.
Thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters, adorned in the green and gold of Brazil’s national flag, gathered on Paulista Avenue, a key thoroughfare in the nation’s largest city, to express solidarity amid growing legal challenges.
Last week, the far-right populist used social media platform X to call for the protest rally, framing it as a “defence of the democratic rule of law.” Bolsonaro is currently under investigation by the Brazilian Federal Police regarding an alleged coup attempt aimed at retaining power after losing the 2022 presidential election, as confirmed by his lawyer in early February. Former ministers from Bolsonaro’s government are also under scrutiny, and some aides have been arrested, according to CNN.
Despite the mounting legal pressure, Bolsonaro, speaking on Sunday, maintained that he is a target of persecution, refraining from directly mentioning the investigating institutions. In 2022, Brazil’s highest electoral court barred Bolsonaro from seeking political office until 2030, citing abuses of power and misuse of public media during the election campaign.
Following Bolsonaro’s narrow defeat to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his supporters rioted and breached government buildings in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro, however, denies any role in inciting the violent attacks in the capital. During Sunday’s rally, he called for parliamentary amnesty for those imprisoned in Brasilia in connection with the January 8 disturbances.
Bolsonaro was seen waving an Israeli flag during the rally, a move intended as opposition to Lula da Silva.
The former president had previously drawn controversy by comparing Israel’s offensive on Gaza to the Holocaust. The political atmosphere in Brazil remains charged, with Bolsonaro using public appearances to rally his base amid the ongoing investigations and legal challenges, CNN reported.
ALSO READ: Biden, Trump Prevail in Michigan Primaries
[soliloquy id="151345"]