Brazil's Foreign Ministry accused Argentine President Javier Milei of interfering in its presidential election Tuesday after he suggested President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva could steal Sunday's runoff against Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro received 47.03% of valid votes in the Oct. 4 first round, compared with 45.16% for Lula, Brazil's electoral court said. Its figures covered 99.99% of ballot boxes.
Milei, who has publicly supported Bolsonaro, made the allegation in a post on X. He called Lula a “leftist thief” and said he hoped what he described as Lula's latest “dirty campaign trick” would not include stealing the election. The post offered no evidence of electoral wrongdoing.
Milei attached a clip of a television interview in which Lula argued for a shorter workweek. Lula used the example of women who work six days and spend their only day off cleaning their homes.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry rejected Milei's remarks as outside interference. It defended the country's electronic voting system and said Brazilian voters would decide the election.
The exchange follows a diplomatic clash in July, when Brazil recalled its ambassador for consultations after remarks Milei made during a visit to São Paulo. The ministry said at the time that his comments offended Brazil's president, its democratic institutions, including the judiciary, and its people. It also described Brazil as Argentina's largest trading partner.
Voters return to the polls Oct. 25 to choose between Lula and Bolsonaro.
