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Brazil denies visas to US envoys ahead of elections, citing interference fears
🇯🇴 Jordan /Elections & Politics

Brazil denies visas to US envoys ahead of elections, citing interference fears

From Al Bawaba · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Brazil denied visas to two U.S. envoys seeking to discuss election integrity ahead of the presidential election.
  • Brazilian officials cited evidence of a U.S. ploy to interfere with the country's democracy and electoral system.
  • The U.S. State Department called the accusations baseless, stating the visit was routine.

Brazil has denied entry to two U.S. envoys who planned to visit the country to discuss election integrity ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The envoys, Assistant Secretary Riley M. Barnes and Deputy Assistant Secretary Samuel Samson from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, had applied for visas on July 20.

completely incompatible with Brazilian democracy

— senior Brazilian officialBrazilian authorities cited this reason for denying visas to U.S. envoys.

Brazilian authorities rejected the visa applications just four days later, citing a U.S. ploy that was "completely incompatible with Brazilian democracy." A senior Brazilian official stated that the denial was based on "evidence pointing to a renewed attempt to politically exploit the situation and undermine the electoral system."

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor responded to the allegations, calling the visit routine. "Any insinuation of a 'ploy' to undermine a democratic nation's election is a baseless lie," a spokesperson said.

evidence pointing to a renewed attempt to politically exploit the situation and undermine the electoral system

— senior Brazilian officialBrazilian authorities cited this as the basis for denying visas to U.S. envoys.

The election features incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeking a second term against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is currently under house arrest after receiving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup following his previous election defeat.

any insinuation of a 'ploy' to undermine a democratic nation's election is a baseless lie

— U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and LaborThe U.S. State Department's response to Brazil's accusations of interference.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Bawaba in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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