Milei to visit Brazil for Bolsonaro party congress

Argentine President Javier Milei is set to visit Brazil next Friday to attend a congress hosted by the Liberal Party, led by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The trip underscores the close political alignment between the far-right leaders.

Sources from the Argentine Presidency confirmed that Milei will travel on Friday night to participate in the party gathering. The event, scheduled for Saturday, July 25, in São Paulo, is expected to feature Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son, who is the leading opposition contender in Brazil's upcoming presidential elections. The congress will serve to officially announce Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential bid.

Milei has publicly backed Flávio Bolsonaro's candidacy, previously stating on social media, "The blue tide is coming for Brazil with Flávio Bolsonaro at the helm." Polls currently show Flávio Bolsonaro as the main challenger to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election.

The relationship between Milei and Lula has been strained since Milei took office in late 2023. Milei has frequently voiced support for the Bolsonaro family, particularly Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Brazil for attempting a coup.

Adding a layer of complexity, Brazil's Supreme Court recently rejected a request from Jair Bolsonaro's lawyers to allow Milei to visit the former president, who is under house arrest. The decision was made by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing Bolsonaro's 27-year sentence for leading a coup plot against Lula da Silva after the 2022 election loss.