Brazil recalls ambassador after Argentine leader calls Lula ‘thief, convict’

Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires following remarks by Argentine President Javier Milei, who described Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a “thief” and a “convict.”

Milei made the comments on Sunday during a rally in São Paulo held to launch the presidential campaign of right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who is expected to contest Brazil’s presidential election in October.

Although he did not mention Lula by name, Milei made derogatory references to the Brazilian leader while appearing alongside Bolsonaro. He also declared that Bolsonaro was the only person capable of “stopping Lula.”

Brazilian diplomats condemned the remarks, saying the Argentine president had insulted Brazil’s government, its people and the country’s democratic institutions.

Responding later on Sunday, Lula said he would continue to govern “without anyone’s interference,” adding that “in Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Brazil’s ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, was scheduled to return to Brazil between Sunday and Monday following the diplomatic dispute.

Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced last year to more than 27 years in prison after being convicted of plotting a coup to remain in office following his defeat to Lula in the previous presidential election.

During the rally, Milei also directed criticism at Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, referring to him as “bald trash.”

Moraes had previously refused Milei’s request to visit Jair Bolsonaro while the former president was under house arrest in Brasília.

Lula was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 over corruption and bribery charges linked to a major scandal but was released after serving just over 18 months.

In 2021, Brazil’s Supreme Court annulled Lula’s convictions, clearing the way for his return to politics. He went on to defeat the far-right incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, in the 2022 presidential election, securing 50.9 per cent of the vote.