Thirty-one Democratic members of the US Congress have sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing the Trump administration of attempting to interfere with and potentially undermine Brazil's elections, weeks before the country's presidential vote.
Key facts
- 31 Democratic members of Congress signed the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- The letter accuses the Trump administration of an apparent effort to interfere with and potentially undermine Brazil's elections.
- Brazil holds the first round of its presidential election on 4 October.
- Polls show a technical tie between incumbent leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
A group of 31 Democratic members of the US Congress has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticising the Trump administration over what they describe as “an apparent effort to interfere with, and potentially undermine” Brazil’s elections, according to the Guardian.
In the letter, the lawmakers argue that US interference is weakening Brazil’s democratic institutions. The intervention comes as Latin America’s largest country prepares to hold the first round of its presidential election.
Brazil will vote in the first round on 4 October. Polls cited by the Guardian show a technical tie between the incumbent leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
The letter was addressed directly to Rubio, placing the concerns before the top US diplomat ahead of the vote. The Democratic legislators framed their objections around the potential impact on the integrity of Brazil’s democratic processes.
The correspondence highlights tensions over the United States’ posture toward one of the region’s most closely watched elections, with the race between Lula and Bolsonaro described as too close to call in the polls referenced by the Guardian.
Why it matters
Brazil is Latin America's largest country and its presidential race is on a knife's edge, making outside involvement especially sensitive. Accusations that a US administration is influencing another democracy's elections raise questions about international norms and the relationship between Washington and Brasília.
Frequently asked questions
When is Brazil's presidential election?
According to the Guardian, the first round of Brazil's presidential election takes place on 4 October.
Who are the leading candidates?
Polls cited by the Guardian show a technical tie between incumbent leftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
What did the Democratic lawmakers say?
The 31 Democratic members of Congress accused the Trump administration of an apparent effort to interfere with, and potentially undermine, Brazil's elections, saying US interference is weakening Brazil's democratic institutions, according to the Guardian.