Massa's Public Endorsement of Lula
Sergio Massa, the former Argentine economy minister and leader of the Frente Renovador, expressed support for the reelection of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a message on X that included the flags of Brazil and Argentina alongside a red heart. The gesture came on the day of the first round of Brazil's general election. Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth term, which he said during the campaign would be his last. He is running on the Workers' Party ticket with Geraldo Alckmin in a vote that also renews governorships, legislative seats and part of the Senate.[S1]
The endorsement reflects a relationship Massa and Lula have maintained for years. In July 2023, while serving as economy minister and as a presidential candidate for Unión por la Patria, Massa held an informal meeting with the Brazilian leader during the Mercosur summit in Ciudad del Este. At that time, the two discussed financing alternatives from Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development for companies tied to construction of the Néstor Kirchner gas pipeline.[S1]
The show of support also follows criticism by the Frente Renovador, the space Massa leads, of the confrontation between Javier Milei's government and Lula. In July, the Massa-aligned group argued that the diplomatic escalation could harm production, employment, small and medium-sized businesses and trade with Brazil, which it described as Argentina's main commercial partner. The position came after Brazil's government summoned its ambassador in Buenos Aires for consultations following remarks by Milei against Lula.[S1]
Brazil's Election Day and the Lula-Bolsonaro Race
The election is being held on Sunday, October 4, with polling stations open until 17:00 Brasília time. According to Infobae's coverage, more than 158 million citizens are eligible to take part, with 13 presidential candidacies validated by the electoral court. Lula's main opponent is Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party candidate and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The contest dominates attention, though the day also decides state and legislative authorities.[S1]
To win outright without a second round, a presidential ticket must secure more than 50% of valid votes, excluding blank and null ballots. If no candidate reaches that threshold, Brazil will hold a runoff on October 25. Polls released in recent days showed a close race. A Quaest survey placed Lula at 46% of valid votes and Flávio Bolsonaro at 45%, while other polls also projected a decision in a second round.[S1]
Flávio Bolsonaro voted on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro at the Escola Municipal Barão Homem de Melo. Few supporters were near the polling place when he arrived, though accredited press were present. After voting, he said the country needs change, claiming it is exhausted by the Workers' Party's management and by Lula, and presented himself as the person called to save the South American nation. He also said that if elected he would guarantee full press freedom, despite media facing more attacks and restrictions during his father's government from 2019 to 2023.[S5]
Stakes for Argentina and the Region
The Brazilian election is presented as decisive for Brazil's future and consequential for the region, with the race pitting different national projects against each other. Lula seeks to renew his mandate, while recent opinion polls showed him and Flávio Bolsonaro leading the field with a significant advantage over other contenders. The dispute also has a regional dimension: the Liberal Party candidate has the backing of Argentine President Javier Milei, who publicly expressed support during the Brazilian campaign. In that context, Massa's endorsement of Lula brings back to the fore the political opposition between sectors of Argentine Peronism and Milei's government over the direction Brazil should take.[S2][S3]
Massa's support is also rooted in the political bond the two leaders built during Argentina's 2023 presidential campaign, when Lula publicly expressed a preference for Massa over Milei. The current Brazilian scenario reverses the roles of that electoral dispute and again shows the former Argentine minister taking a position on a presidential election in Argentina's main trading partner. The Brazilian vote will also affect the bilateral relationship and the future of Mercosur at a time of sharp political differences between Milei and Lula.[S3]
On his X account, Massa posted images of himself and Lula, including one of Lula wearing a shirt reproducing the flag reading "Las Malvinas son argentinas," displayed by Argentina's national team players after their win over England in the semifinal of the 2026 World Cup. The former economy minister accompanied the photos with a Brazilian flag, an Argentine flag and a heart. The two main presidential candidates, Lula and Bolsonaro, present diametrically opposed governance programs representing two different models of country.[S4][S5]
