Milei Backs Bolsonaro in Brazil's October Vote, Triggering Worst Rift in Decades
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 23
Milei Backs Bolsonaro in Brazil's October Vote, Triggering Worst Rift in Decades
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 23
Summary
In São Paulo last month, Javier Milei embraced candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and denounced Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a “thief” and “socialist trash” in a bid to sway Brazil’s October election.
Brazil responded by recalling its ambassador to Argentina, turning the episode into the most serious diplomatic rupture in decades between South America’s two largest economies.
The clash reflects a broader regional pattern in which right-wing leaders are openly campaigning for ideological allies across borders, borrowing from Donald Trump’s confrontational, media-driven style.
That cross-border alignment is gaining traction as voters across Latin America react to crime, insecurity, weak economies and dissatisfaction with left-wing governments.