Brazilian social movements lobby U.S. lawmakers against election interference

Social movements and organizations from Brazil are in Washington this week, engaging with U.S. congressional representatives to forge international alliances against any potential foreign interference in Brazil's upcoming presidential elections. The delegation aims to ensure the electoral process is respected and that foreign governments and tech companies uphold Brazilian sovereignty.

The group is scheduled to meet with several Democratic lawmakers, including Mark Pocan, Joaquin Castro, Chuy García, and Jonathan Jackson, as well as staff from Jim McGovern, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Tim Kaine, and Peter Welch. They also hope to meet with a Republican representative, though that meeting has not yet been confirmed. Discussions are planned with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and representatives from the Brazilian Embassy and other civil society organizations. A request for a meeting with U.S. government representatives has been made, but no response has been received.

According to the Recife Institute for Law and Technology Research (IP.rec), a participant in the mission, the objective is to engage various political and institutional actors. They intend to highlight the importance of respecting Brazil's electoral process and the need for foreign entities to observe Brazilian sovereignty. This initiative comes amid increased international travel by presidential pre-candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Flávio Bolsonaro has visited the U.S. multiple times this year, including a trip in early July where he reportedly sought to contest U.S. tariffs on Brazil.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, Flávio's brother and a former congressman, has been living in the U.S. since early 2025 and frequently travels to Washington with influencer Paulo Figueiredo. They have urged the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers to pressure Brazilian authorities, particularly concerning the ongoing legal proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro, who faces accusations of attempting a coup. In March, Flávio Bolsonaro spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), urging the U.S. and the "free world" to closely monitor Brazil's elections and protect freedom of expression.

The delegation, led by the Washington Brazil Office and comprising about 15 civil society organizations, has formally requested that American parliamentarians urge the U.S. government to promptly recognize the winner of the Brazilian presidential election, regardless of who it is, once the vote count is complete. This, they argue, aligns with international diplomatic practices and the principle of non-interference between sovereign states.