The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opens on September 22 in New York, bringing together leaders and officials of the 193 member states for six days of work. By a tradition that goes back to the 1950s, Brazil speaks first, followed by the United States as the host country. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party has already decided how he will use that spot: by delivering a message on elections to US President Donald Trump.
Lula made the remarks on Friday (11) at a campaign rally in Porto Alegre, according to G1, the news portal of Brazil's Globo group. Commenting on the speaking order ("At the UN I speak first, then Trump speaks after me"), he previewed his line. Dona Lindu, Lula's late mother, gives her name to one of his best-known expressions, which he uses to say he does not accept provocations.
"I do not meddle in American elections because that is a matter for the American people, you were elected and I respect the result of the election. Please, do not mess with Dona Lindu's son, because I like everyone, I like to respect, and I like to be respected".
Sovereignty on the ballot in an election year
The message lands in the middle of the campaign for Brazil's October general election, in which Lula is running for reelection. The latest Datafolha poll, released on Friday, puts the president at 39% of first-round voting intentions against 35% for Flávio Bolsonaro, with a technical tie in a runoff. Foreign interference became a campaign issue after Trump asked Lula about the Brazilian vote in a recent phone call that lasted one hour and 20 minutes. Lula says he answered that Brazil accepts no interference from anyone.
The backdrop explains the tone. Over the past year, according to G1, the Trump administration imposed new tariffs on Brazilian products and made statements against the conviction of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Brasília has answered on two tracks: it publicly defends national sovereignty while keeping a working channel to Washington, which includes a 45-minute meeting between the two presidents in Malaysia about a month after last year's General Assembly, and the recent call, made at Lula's request. On September 5, Lula had already confirmed he would meet Trump in New York and joked that he would ask the American to send a Pix, Brazil's instant payment system, "and see how good it is", as reported by Jovem Pan.
From 'excellent chemistry' to criticism of the judiciary
It was at last year's General Assembly that the relationship changed tone. Trump said he had "excellent chemistry" with Lula, who "seemed like a very nice guy", and described an embrace backstage and an agreement to meet. In the same speech, though, he said Brazil had "censorship, repression, judicial corruption and persecution of political critics", an indirect criticism of the trial and of the judiciary that convicted Bolsonaro.
The September 22 speech will have two audiences: the diplomats of the 193 member states and Brazilian voters in the closing weeks of the campaign. As Lula himself predicted, Trump will be seated behind him in the chamber while the Brazilian speaks, before taking the podium himself.