The possibility of United States interference in Brazilian elections was on the agenda of the meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and US Senator Bernie Sanders, held on Monday night (21), in New York.
According to a source heard by Folha de S. Pauloduring the meeting, the American senator defended that the progressive sectors of his country take a position in favor of Brazil’s self-determination amid the pressure exerted by the Trump administration.
During the conversation, Sanders questioned the president about the risk of American interference in the Brazilian electoral process. Lula said that the authorities remain alert to possible attempts at interference, but assessed that, so far, there are no concrete signs of a relevant action on the elections. The president did not rule out, however, that an initiative of this type could occur.
The meeting took place on the eve of Lula’s speech at the opening of the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). Sanders and Lula also discussed ongoing wars and the role of the United Nations in promoting peace, the deepening of inequality, the concentration of wealth, the growth of the far right and the impacts of artificial intelligence.
The US senator has been defending stricter regulation of big techs. This month, alongside deputy Greg Casar, he presented a proposal aimed at controlling the development of advanced artificial intelligence systems.
Defense of multilateralism
In a message on social media, Lula reported that both defended “multilateralism, peace and democracy” and that they condemned “the increase in military spending, the deepening of inequalities and job insecurity in various parts of the world”.
Lula and Sanders agreed on the need to reform the UN Security Council and expressed “concern about extremism”, defending “the urgent need for multilateral governance of artificial intelligence” and “greater participation of young people and women in politics at all levels”.
Sanders reported to the Brazilian president the economic and political situation in the United States and his perspective on the midterm elections, scheduled for November 3.
They also talked about the Unified Health System (SUS), a central issue in Sanders’ fight, which defends expanding Americans’ access to health services. He told Lula that he intends to invite him to speak about the Brazilian experience in the United States Senate.
In addition to Sanders, the Brazilian president also met, on Monday (21), with the president of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, and the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
