Milei stays silent on Lula win, keeps economic plan unchanged

Argentine President Javier Milei did not congratulate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after the Workers Party leader won Brazil's presidential election. Milei had previously called Lula a communist dictator and openly supported Flavio Bolsonaro in the race.

Instead of addressing the result, Milei held a Cabinet meeting at the Casa Rosada to affirm that his economic program would not change by a millimeter. Before the session, he appeared on the presidential palace balcony with his ministers to project unity.

“Itamaraty said nothing when Javier won.”

The meeting lasted slightly more than an hour in the Eva Peron Hall and did not include Senator Patricia Bullrich. Milei ruled out applying electoral economic incentives to improve La Libertad Avanza's performance in the 2027 presidential elections.

The silence contrasted with an October 5 Cabinet meeting, when Milei celebrated Flavio Bolsonaro's first-round advantage and linked the so-called plan platita to recipes from the past. A Cabinet member justified the lack of an official greeting by recalling Milei's 2023 victory over Sergio Massa, saying Itamaraty said nothing when Javier won.

An official source also mentioned the reduction of the working day in Brazil, the 6x1 schedule, electoral money, and fear generated by the proposal among women and young people. Santiago Caputo was the only official to break the silence, disputing interpretations of the Brazilian result on Sunday night without offering self-criticism.