Brazil's president says in UN speech that democracy can prevail over would-be autocrats'

"Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's president, has launched an impassioned defence of his country's democracy, claiming the recent conviction of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had shown the world how would-be autocrats could be brought to heel. Speaking at the opening of the United Nations general assembly in New York, Lula hailed Brazil's successful effort to repel an unprecedented attack from Bolsonaro's extreme right movement."

"But the South American leftist warned the global threat persisted. All around the world, anti-democratic forces are trying to subjugate institutions and suffocate freedoms. They worship violence, glorify ignorance, act as physical and digital militias, and restrict the press, Lula said. In an unmistakable but indirect reference to the Trump administration, Lula slammed foreign attempts to meddle in Bolsonaro's recent trial with a pressure campaign of tariffs and arbitrary sanctions."

"US-Brazil relations have foundered in the lead up to the annual summit, with the US president slapping 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports as a result of what he called the political execution of his rightwing ally. Twenty-four hours before Lula's speech Trump officials announced new sanctions against Brazilian authorities, revoking the visas of the country's attorney general, Jorge Messias, and six other officials."

President Lula defended Brazil's democracy and credited the conviction of Jair Bolsonaro with demonstrating that would-be autocrats can be held accountable. Bolsonaro received a 27-year sentence for attempting to stage a military coup after losing the 2022 election. Lula warned that anti-democratic forces worldwide continue to subjugate institutions, glorify violence, operate as physical and digital militias, and restrict press freedoms. Lula criticized foreign meddling in the trial, and relations with the United States deteriorated as Washington imposed 50% tariffs and announced visa revocations and sanctions against Brazilian officials, including Magnitsky measures.

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