Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has defended the trial which saw his predecessor in office, Jair Bolsonaro, sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for plotting a coup.
In an opinion piece published in the New York Times, Lula dismissed the description by U.S. President Donald Trump of the trial as a 'witch hunt', saying that it was a 'historic decision which safeguards our institutions and the democratic rule of law'.
The Brazilian leader stated he had penned the essay to spark open dialogue with Trump, who has recently imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. Lula characterized the tariff hike as 'not only misguided but illogical'.
Relations have soured between the U.S. and Brazil in recent months, particularly contrasting the times Trump collaborated with Bolsonaro. Lula, known for his forthright communication style, criticized Trump’s claims and explained that the $410 billion trade surplus between the U.S. and Brazil should allow for more constructive relations.
Noteworthy was Lula's insistence that the tariffs were politically motivated, targeting Brazil for its judicial actions against Bolsonaro. He stated, 'The U.S. government is using tariffs and the Magnitsky Act to seek impunity for former President Jair Bolsonaro.'
The trial concluded when a Supreme Court panel found Bolsonaro guilty, sentencing him to 27 years and 3 months in prison, a decision that sparked backlash not only from Bolsonaro’s supporters but also from Trump, who called the verdict 'very surprising'.
Lula reminded readers that the trial was based on procedures compliant with Brazil's 1988 Constitution, crafted post-military dictatorship. He also contended that Brazil's internet regulations targeted American firms fairly, without censorship.
In closing, Lula expressed Brazil's openness to negotiation but firmly asserted that 'Brazil's democracy and sovereignty are not on the table'.
