Milei attacks Lula again and expands diplomatic crisis with Brazil

During an interview with Argentine broadcaster LN+, Milei stated that Lula is a “thief” and “corrupt” and again contested the annulment of the Brazilian president's convictions in Operation Lava Jato.

"He is a thief, corrupt. He is not innocent. He was released due to a failure in the legal process," he declared.

Milei also rejected the assessment that her statements were aggressive. According to the Argentine, the seriousness would lie in the alleged crime, and not in the accusation.

"It's aggressive when someone steals. It's much lighter to call a thief a thief than the act of stealing itself," he said. The president also stated that the words used against Lula appeared spontaneously.

The new declaration increases tension between the governments of the two countries. The previous week, Milei participated in a political event in São Paulo in support of the presidential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro (PL). At the time, he called Lula a “thief”, “corrupt”, “prisoner” and “socialist trash”.

After the event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Argentine ambassador in Brasília, Daniel Raimondi, to convey the discontent of the Palácio do Planalto. The Brazilian ambassador in Buenos Aires, Julio Bitelli, was also called for consultations.

In a statement, the government classified the episode as “unprecedented”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, considered the statements serious, but ruled out measures such as the withdrawal of diplomatic representatives at that time.

Lula avoided responding directly to the first attacks. When asked about Milei, he simply asked: “Who is this guy?”

The Brazilian president toughened his speech in the following days and classified the Argentinian's presence at the PL meeting as a “scam”. During a PSB event, he also stated that he would not accept foreign interference in national politics.

"You saw the rant [sic] that the president of Argentina made here. I didn't say anything, because my relationship is a relationship between the head of State and the State. And I like the Argentine people and I'm not going to change things with that thing. And there's no point in talking angry, because I'm not going to be angry. The guy made an ugly face, I make a pretty face. The guy shows hate, I show love", declared Lula.

Lula criticizes Trump and Milei's interference in Brazilian elections

Lula's speeches were at the PT convention that confirmed Elmano de Freitas' candidacy for re-election to the government of Ceará this Friday, 31st.