Mélenchon calls Bolsonaro a U.S. ‘puppet’ in resurfaced remarks backing Lula and portraying his victory as a defeat for American power

French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon described Jair Bolsonaro as a U.S.-controlled “puppet” and portrayed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil as a broader defeat for American power in remarks from the 2022 Brazilian presidential campaign that resurfaced Friday.

“We know very well who Mr. Bolsonaro is,” Mélenchon said. “He is nothing more than an agent, a puppet, a mere figurehead entirely controlled by the U.S.A.”

Mélenchon accused the United States of behaving like an empire seeking global domination and pursuing an aggressive and militaristic foreign policy against countries that resist it.

“That is why the defeat of Mr. Bolsonaro is necessary,” he said, arguing that it would be felt worldwide “as the defeat of the empire, and Lula’s victory as the victory of the people.”

In separate remarks supporting Lula, Mélenchon described the Brazilian leftist leader as a political figure admired by workers, poor people and those he said had been exploited or humiliated.

“For a long time now, Lula has, in a way, been our hero,” Mélenchon said.

Lula defeated Bolsonaro in Brazil’s October 2022 presidential election and returned to office in January 2023. Mélenchon publicly celebrated the result at the time, writing: “Victory for Lula, victory for the people.”