President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended a Workers’ Party (PT) convention in Ceará on Friday, where the party nominated Governor Elmano de Freitas for reelection with Gabriella Aguiar, deputy mayor of Fortaleza, as his running mate.
Senators Cid Gomes and Camilo Santana flanked Lula on stage as the party’s main supporters in the state.
Lula addressed national sovereignty, mentioning tensions with the Trump administration, attacks from Argentine President Javier Milei, and a diplomatic dispute with Paraguay. He said he wanted no foreign interference in the election, only support from the Brazilian people to maintain democracy.
People close to Lula view recent Trump administration pressure as an attempt to undermine Brazil’s elections and favour opposition presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro of the PL party, CNN has reported.
The president also pledged to create a Ministry of Public Security if reelected, saying the goal would be to fight organized crime rather than target poor communities.
Senator Camilo, the brother of Ciro Gomes, a PSDB pre-candidate for governor, attacked the opposition as a group driven by hate and misinformation. Elmano similarly accused rivals of lying without shame and of stirring up conflict.
