An anti-American president seeks a fourth term in Brazil

In recent years, the radical left has lost almost every election in Latin America. However, in Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — an ally of China, Russia and Iran — is attempting to win a fourth term in Sunday’s election. 

Some 160 million Brazilians will head to the polls to elect a president, governors and legislative representatives. Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro — son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was unjustly imprisoned — is in a virtual dead heat with President Lula, and a runoff election is considered likely.

These are no ordinary elections. Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and plays a pivotal role bridging the Western democracies of the G20 and the so-called Global South within the BRICS group featuring Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A victory for Lula would strengthen authoritarian regimes, undermining democracy and the U.S. strategy under the new Monroe Doctrine.

During an address to the U.N. General Assembly last week, Lula stated that Brazil was too big to fit into anyone’s “backyard” and that the country would not tolerate interference in its electoral process. He also condemned the alleged blockade against Cuba, defended Palestine and accused the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing genocide. 

His remarks at the U.N. were praised by Khaled Qaddoumi, political representative........

© The Hill