Lula

Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate in Brazil and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has selected his running mate for the October election. The announcement comes as he campaigns against Lula in the upcoming vote.

The Democratic Senate primary in Michigan remains too close to call with Abdul El-Sayed leading Haley Stevens. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez secured a spot in Washington state's all-party primary, while Missouri's election official rejected a redistricting referendum petition.

Brazil downgraded diplomatic relations with Argentina to the level of chargé d’affaires on 4 August 2026, recalling Ambassador Julio Bitelli. The dispute followed President Javier Milei's third insult against President Lula, calling him a 'thief' since Sunday.

Brazil's Copom is expected to reduce the Selic benchmark rate from 14.25% to 14.00% due to cooling inflation and market expectations of a less aggressive easing path than desired by Lula.

Lula is launching a bid for a fourth term, emphasizing national sovereignty. He is using Bolsonaro family ties with Trump to frame the election as a fight against submission to foreign interests.

Brazilian police have launched a graft investigation into President Lula's son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva. The Supreme Court authorized the probe months before the upcoming presidential election.

Brazil recalled its ambassador from Buenos Aires after Javier Milei insulted President Lula during an event in São Paulo, escalating tensions between the two nations.

The PT has selected Gleisi Hoffmann and Doutor Rosinha as Senate candidates in Paraná, chosen by Lula. The announcement was first published by The Rio Times.

The PDT endorsed Alexandre Kalil as the candidate for Minas Gerais governor, highlighting a conflict with the PT party. The move signals a rift between the PDT and PT on the left.

Flavio Bolsonaro has launched his presidential bid in Brazil with support from Milei. He is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and aims to challenge President Lula.

Flavio Bolsonaro, a right-wing candidate, has launched his Brazil presidential campaign with endorsements from Netanyahu and Milei but faces low poll numbers ahead of a potential contest with Lula.

União Brasil and the Progressistas merged into União Progressista, now the largest bloc in Brazil’s Congress. The bloc is described as a growing challenge for President Lula ahead of the 2026 elections.

US tariffs are impacting Brazil's economy, causing the Bolsonaro family's Washington strategy to falter. Lula is polling ahead in the upcoming elections.

Lula's absence from early debates for Brazil's 2026 election is attributed to a packed pre-convention schedule, with opponents criticizing the move as reminiscent of past leaders avoiding early face-offs. The article highlights tensions around political strategy and debate participation.

A July 2026 Quaest poll indicates President Lula has increased his lead over Flávio Bolsonaro to 8 points in a simulated runoff for Brazil's presidential election. The poll reflects a significant advantage in the hypothetical election scenario.

President Lula signed decrees in Brazil making digital platforms administratively responsible for removing illegal content after an out-of-court notice. A second decree mandates dedicated channels and faster removal of harmful content targeting women and girls.

Brazil is affected by US tariffs and Lula's health issues; Argentina experiences grief over a World Cup loss; Chile confronts deadly challenges. The article provides a regional overview of these events on July 20, 2026.

Brazil’s payments system Pix has drawn criticism from Donald Trump, but his tariff threats have increased public support for the platform and President Lula. The article highlights how Trump's actions inadvertently bolstered domestic pride in Pix and Lula's leadership.

Brazil is pursuing a plan to enter China's onshore bond market through Lula's Panda-Bond initiative, but success hinges on corporate Brazil's participation. The article notes Brazil's ambitions and the conditional reliance on corporate engagement.

In a hypothetical 2026 Brazilian presidential runoff 15 months before the election, Lula leads Flavio Bolsonaro by 8 points (45% to 37%). Lula's approval (48%) and disapproval (47%) ratings are statistically tied, reflecting a divided electorate.

The US will impose 25% tariffs on certain Brazilian goods, including coffee and beef, after an investigation found Brazil's trade practices to be unreasonable and discriminatory. The Office of the US Trade Representative stated these practices harm American farmers, workers, and exporters.

Brazil’s political parties will hold conventions from July 20 to August 5 to formalize presidential candidacies. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s party convenes first on July 25 in São Paulo, followed by President Lula’s party on August 2 in the same city.

Brazil reported zero direct oil exports to Israel in 2025, hailed by campaigners as a victory for the boycott campaign. The BDS movement attributes this to pressure on Brazil's government and corporations, though concerns remain about third-party sales. Brazil had previously been Israel's fifth-largest crude oil supplier until mid-2024.

Argentina's president will attend a rally for Flávio Bolsonaro in São Paulo on July 25 and greet jailed Jair Bolsonaro, a move seen as a snub to Lula.

Amazon deforestation has fallen to its lowest level in a decade under Lula. The decline occurs months before Brazil's presidential election, with Lula pledging to end illegal deforestation by 2030.

The Brazil Senate approved up to R$15bn ($2.9bn) in credit lines on 8 July, forwarding the measure to President Lula for signature. The funding, part of Conversion Bill 7 of 2026 derived from Provisional Measure 1345, is backed by the Export Guarantee Fund.

Brazil's election rules have removed Lula's incumbency status. A Meio/Ideia poll shows Lula leading with 40.4% in the first round, while Senator Flávio Bolsonaro trails at 32%. The same survey indicates 41% of respondents rate the government as bad or terrible.

Argentina celebrates a World Cup victory while President Milei plans a state shutdown; Colombia experiences another penalty-related exit; President Lula confronts the Senate; and Sheinbaum faces a political challenge. The article is published by The Rio Times.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro submitted an 86-page filing to the US trade office on July 1, requesting a delay of 25% tariffs on Brazilian goods for 180 days. He argues past tariffs strengthened President Lula ahead of the vote.

Brazil's loan defaults reached a record 4.7% in May 2023, with household defaults at 5.6% and company defaults at 3.24%, the highest levels since 2011 and 2017 respectively, despite ongoing debt relief measures.

Brazil's right-wing factions face challenges uniting against Lula for the 2026 election. Presidential candidate Ronaldo Caiado selected Gilberto Kassab as his running mate, forming an all-PSD ticket for October.

Brazil pledged $100 million annually to Mercosur's shared development fund at a summit in Paraguay, despite the regional bloc drifting rightward. The move aims to maintain unity within the group.

President Lula launched Desenrola Adimplentes, a new phase of his debt program targeting informal workers without formal CLT jobs or public-service posts who pay high personal-credit rates. The initiative aims to provide cheaper loans for timely payments.

Brazil's government, under President Lula, has signed a decree allowing the freezing and seizure of funds from illegal betting operators. The government has identified 37 financial firms, mostly fintechs and payment companies, involved in moving money for these operations.

Most of Lula's spending package operates outside Brazil's fiscal cap, with only a small portion complying with the rules he established. This approach still increases public debt despite the fiscal constraints.

Federal Police raided the home of Jaques Wagner, President Lula’s leader in the Senate, seizing $55,000 and €33,000 in cash. Wagner is the first member of Lula’s inner circle implicated in the bank scandal, with investigators suspecting undue influence.

Lula has urged Trump to refrain from influencing Brazil’s elections, as he competes in a close race against Flavio Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. The election pits Lula against Bolsonaro, who is aligned with the former U.S. president.

Brazil's president attended the G7 summit in Évian, France, as an invited guest and positioned himself as the voice of the developing world, criticizing rising global inequality. Brazil, though not a G7 member, leveraged its economic and regional influence during the event.

Brazil’s right-wing political figures, including Flávio Bolsonaro, are adopting policies previously associated with Lula, such as the Bolsa Família welfare program and a R$5,000 tax break. These proposals are framed as being funded through spending cuts rather than new taxes.

Brazil and Mexico aim to link their state oil firms, Petrobras and Pemex. Presidents Lula and Sheinbaum discussed the move in a video call, with an agreement expected soon but not yet finalized.