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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
The latest news and top stories on Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president. A former metalworker and prominent trade unionist, he co-founded the Workers’ Party and previously served as president from 2003-2011, overseeing significant poverty reduction and economic growth. Re-elected in 2022, his current tenure focuses on advocating new development models and strengthening cooperation across the Global South. He champions the New Development Bank’s role in emerging economies, pushing for reforms in traditional financial institutions and a more multipolar international system.
Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro steps off a private jet at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport in Florida on Wednesday, having left Brazil in defiance of a court travel ban. Photo: AFP
Argentina

Trump and Milei face scrutiny over Flavio Bolsonaro’s flight from Brazil to US

The US and Argentine leaders face scrutiny over how the defeated Brazilian candidate fled justice and landed in Florida on a private jet.

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SCMP Highlights

Lula win aids China ties; Hong Kong official quits over Tai Po fire: 7 highlights

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Flavio Bolsonaro mocked at home after self-exile to US

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Americas and the Caribbean

How Flavio Bolsonaro pulled off a clandestine escape to the US

Behind the frenzied 24 hours that saw the defeated candidate slip into Argentina and fly to Florida.

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Flavio Bolsonaro steps off a private jet after arriving at Opa-locka Executive Airport in Florida. Photo: AFP
Brazil

Editorial | For China, Lula’s win in Brazil removes uncertainty

China’s response to Brazil’s presidential election result has been wisely restrained given the high stakes involved.

Americas and the Caribbean

Flavio Bolsonaro lands in Miami, declares himself rightful leader of Brazil

Defeated candidate claims without evidence he was victim of ‘electoral coup’ by President Lula and the Supreme Court.

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Americas and the Caribbean

Flavio Bolsonaro leaves Brazil for US after shock election loss to Lula

Trump says he ‘would approve’ of senator’s entry as defeated candidate defies Supreme Court order to surrender passports.

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Posters bearing portraits of Flavio Bolsonaro and US President Donald Trump crossed out with a red X in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo: AFP
China-Latin America relations

Lula’s win in Brazil deals blow to Trump’s Latin America push: former China envoy

Brazilian leader’s re-election described as representing ‘major setback’ for US president’s effort to assert American primacy in region.

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Americas and the Caribbean

Trump claims Brazil election ‘rigged’ as Bolsonaro’s party acknowledges Lula win

Conservative challenger denies plans to flee, agrees to hand over passports and vows to ‘organise the opposition’.

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China-Latin America relations

Win for Lula boosts China’s foothold and gives Brazil rare earths leverage

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, has secured an unprecedented fourth term after beating right-wing rival and Trump ally Flavio Bolsonaro.

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Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves the national flag as he addresses supporters after his run-off victory, in Sao Paulo on October 26. Photo: Reuters
China trade

Brazil draws record Chinese investment. Is Lula’s industrial strategy a problem?

The re-elected leader has championed closer economic ties with Beijing but also wants his nation to move up the value chain.

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Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Workers’ Party candidate for re-election, joins hands with Vice President Geraldo Alckmin while gathering with supporters after winning the presidential runoff in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
China-Latin America relations

Lula secures surprise win to retain Brazil presidency

Brazil’s 80-year-old leader gets a fourth term after an unprecedented bounce back in the presidential election run-off.

China-Latin America relations

Lula pulls off Brazil’s first-ever run-off comeback to beat Bolsonaro

Victory keeps Beijing’s top overseas investment destination aligned with China as conservative rival rejects results.

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Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s election left hanging as judge extends vote after polls close, sparking chaos

Polls to close 2 hours later after President Lula’s campaign asked the Supreme Court for an extension, citing public transport issues.

Supporters of Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wave a flag in Sao Paulo state, Brazil on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Brazil

Days before Brazil’s run-off, Lula and Bolsonaro seek to disqualify each other

Clash over alleged algorithmic bias and state messaging ratchets up tension ahead of Sunday’s knife-edge vote.

Electronic voting machines are prepared in Brasilia ahead of Sunday’s presidential run-off, as both campaigns mount eleventh-hour challenges at the country’s top electoral court. Photo: AP
Brazil

Lula and Bolsonaro trade barbs in fiery Brazil run-off debate

First face-to-face clash descends into personal attacks one week before high-stakes presidential vote.

Environment

Global deforestation fell in 2025, but Congo Basin losses surged

Worldwide destruction dropped 15 per cent, though impending super El Nino threatens 2030 targets.

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Americas and the Caribbean

Flavio Bolsonaro says he would work with China and US as Brazil’s president

As leader, Bolsonaro would assume control of an economy that is heavily dependent on China – by far Brazil’s largest trading partner.

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Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro attends a meeting with elected governors, ahead of the run-off election in Brasilia, Brazil on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
China-Latin America relations

Chinese consortium to build Latin America’s longest cable-stayed bridge

A public-private partnership including two Chinese engineering conglomerates is due to complete the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge by 2031.

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China-Latin America relations

Brazil-China ties in focus as Bolsonaro gets election edge over Lula

Flavio Bolsonaro won an upset victory in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, setting up a run-off on October 25.

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil heads to run-off between Lula and pro-Trump Senator Flavio Bolsonaro

Right-wing senator takes surprise first-round lead over Brazil’s 80-year-old president.

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Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his main opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro. Photo: AFP
China-Latin America relations

Brazil’s Lula hails Chinese investors as rival pitches rare earths to Trump

Brazilian president names China a possible partner in his critical minerals plans, as Flavio Bolsonaro courts Trump, with election looming.

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greets supporters during a campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro on Friday ahead of Sunday's general election. Photo: Reuters
Brazil

Lula and Bolsonaro clash in final scramble for Brazil presidency

Incumbent leftist and far-right rival locked in a dead heat as mudslinging and a religious row dominate the campaign finale.

China-Latin America relations

China backs Cuba, Beijing’s Panama threat: 7 Latin America relations reads

From geopolitical alliances to a record-making UN vote, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in September 2026.

China-Latin America relations

Brazil’s beef exporters hit a wall in China as 55% tariff kicks in

Surtax on its largest market alarms the industry, which is already locked out of the EU and facing higher US duties.

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A butcher weighs meat at a butcher’s shop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. China is charging an extra 55 per cent tariff on Brazilian beef starting on Thursday, October 1. Photo: AFP
China-Latin America relations

Exclusive | China-based Brics bank set for hunger alliance lead role this year, Brazil says

Brazilian minister Wellington Dias tells SCMP a fund to cut borrowing costs for the poor may launch by December as US marginalises the G20.

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Brazil’s Minister of Social Development, Wellington Dias (centre), speaks at the United Nations General Assembly's high-level plenary session on Social Business, Youth, and Technology on Wednesday. Photo: Handout
China-Latin America relations

Lula backs China peace push at UN, tells US that Brazil is ‘no one’s backyard’

Brazilian leader criticises tariffs and military pressure while demanding domestic benefits from foreign access to critical minerals.

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China-Latin America relations

US trade chief pressed Brazil to review Anglo American nickel sale to China

Jamieson Greer asked Brasilia to curb ‘non-market’ buyers of critical minerals in exchange for relief from Trump’s tariffs.

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