BRAZIL’S President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been confirmed as his Workers Party’s candidate in the October presidential election.

The Brazilian president said in his party convention speech on Sunday that he wanted to boost his country’s defence industry and protect its rare minerals, claiming that “no Chinese, no American, no French will touch” these resources without respecting Brazil’s sovereignty.

“We will have to be much more daring to change a lot of things in this country,” he said.

This comes as Workers Party politicians have expressed concern about foreign-sponsored threats of co-ordinated interference seeking to influence voters and undermine trust in Brazil’s electronic voting system.

Lula’s rival, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, has enjoyed open support from members of US President Donald Trump’s administration, along with Argentinian President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Trump administration has imposed new tariffs on Brazilian exports and changed the designation of two local criminal groups to terrorist groups, which legal analysts say could hurt companies and open a path for other kinds of intervention. 

Mr Milei came to Sao Paulo on July 25 to speak at a convention of Mr Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, sparking a diplomatic crisis when he insulted Lula.

Mr Netanyahu has recorded a video in support of the president’s opponent.