Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2013 Brazil\u2019s current president, Luiz In\u00e1cio\nLula da Silva, has once again put himself forward for a fourth\npresidential term. At the age of 80, he has officially begun his\ncampaign to retain the presidency in October\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n
Quoting Al Jazeera on Monday (3\/8\/2026), Lula has made rejection of\nforeign interference the central message of his campaign, reaffirming\nhis commitment to safeguarding Brazil\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Speaking before thousands of Workers\u2019 Party supporters who packed a\nconvention centre in S\u00e3o Paulo on Sunday local time, Lula even promised\nthat, if re-elected, this would be his final term in office.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening national\ndefences, including protecting Brazil\u2019s rare earth and strategic mineral\nreserves from foreign control.<\/p>\n
Major powers such as China, the United States and France would not\ngain access to Brazil\u2019s mineral wealth without respecting the country\u2019s\nsovereignty. He also rejected any form of outside intervention in\nBrazil\u2019s domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be prepared so that no one invades this country,\u201d Lula\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Brazil, we do not accept anyone meddling in matters that are not\ntheir business,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
The remarks came amid rising tensions between Brazil and the United\nStates after Washington imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian\nproducts in July. The Brazilian government has rejected accusations of\nunfair trade practices used to justify the measures.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lula renewed his attack on Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro, another\npresidential candidate from the Liberal Party. He highlighted the\ncloseness of the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro to US President\nDonald Trump, even calling Fl\u00e1vio a \u201ctraitor to the nation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Leonardo Paz, a professor of political science at the Getulio Vargas\nFoundation, believes the sovereignty issue is a sound strategy for Lula.\nAccording to him, the narrative allows Lula to present external threats\nas one of the factors shaping Brazil\u2019s current situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis sovereignty message is emerging at just the right moment for\nLula,\u201d Paz said.<\/p>\n
The latest Datafolha poll shows Lula still ahead in a second-round\nsimulation against Fl\u00e1vio, with electability at 48% versus 43%. Even so,\nthe race is expected to remain tight given the intense political\npolarisation in Brazil.<\/p>\n
On the domestic front, Lula still faces challenges in the form of a\nhigh cost of living, concerns over the budget deficit, and security\nproblems caused by organised crime groups. Several corruption\ninvestigations targeting figures from both political camps are also\nexpected to become campaign issues in the run-up to October\u2019s\nelection.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/at-80-president-lula-seeks-fourth-term-highlights-foreign-interference-1785765147", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }