Brazil Recalls Ambassador After Argentina’s Milei Labels Lula ‘Thief’, ‘Convict’

Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Argentina after Argentine President Javier Milei referred to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as “the thief” and “the convict” during a political rally in São Paulo.

Milei made the remarks on Saturday while campaigning alongside Flávio Bolsonaro, who is contesting Brazil’s October presidential election against Lula. Although he did not mention Lula by name, his comments referenced the Brazilian leader’s imprisonment before his corruption convictions were overturned, paving the way for his return to office in 2022.

Speaking at the rally, Milei described Flávio Bolsonaro as the only candidate capable of defeating Lula in the election.

The Argentine president also criticised Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, calling him “bald trash” without mentioning him directly.

Justice Moraes presided over the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for plotting to overturn the outcome of the 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest and barred from seeking office, has endorsed his son, Flávio, as the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate.

Brazilian officials strongly condemned Milei’s comments, with a diplomatic source telling AFP that the Argentine leader had insulted Brazil’s institutions, its people and its democracy.

While Lula did not respond directly to Milei’s remarks, he said during an event on Sunday that “in Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”

The diplomatic row marks a fresh deterioration in relations between South America’s two largest economies, despite Brazil and Argentina remaining major trading partners.