Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília on Monday, as part of her efforts in the context of her candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General. The meeting was part of the Brazilian President's official agenda following his return from the United States, where he met with President Donald Trump. The Lula government, along with the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, are the two nations that continue to support Bachelet's candidacy for the top position in the multilateral organization. This follows the decision by President José Antonio Kast to withdraw his support for Bachelet.
"Brazil, along with Mexico, will continue to support Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General. Bachelet has a strong track record and the most outstanding qualifications for the position, having served as President of her country on two occasions, as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and as Executive Director of UN Women. She possesses all the credentials to be the first Latin American woman to lead the organization, promoting peace, strengthening multilateralism, and placing sustainable development at the center of the international agenda," Lula stated to reaffirm his support for her nomination at the time.
The former two-time President of Chile arrived at the Brazilian government building around 2:00 PM (local time) to meet with the Brazilian leader, with whom she maintains a close relationship based on their political affinity. The meeting took place after Bachelet faced a marathon of questions for three hours before the 193 member states of the United Nations Assembly on April 21st, to defend her candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General.
Bachelet, in fact, began her presentation with words of gratitude to Brazil and Mexico for their support for her candidacy, after the current Chilean government distanced itself from the announcement made in September 2025 by then-President Gabriel Boric.
"I am deeply moved by the trust you have placed in me at this moment of danger and hope. I want to thank all the delegations for this opportunity to present a message of renewed faith regarding the future of the United Nations," she said on the occasion.
During her appearance, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also detailed the strategic pillars for leading the UN: the importance of renewing multilateralism, the protection of human rights, loyalty to the UN Charter and its three pillars, institutional reform, citizen engagement, and preparation for the organization's centennial in 2045.
Lula, for his part, has publicly stated that he demands a reform of the UN Security Council, incorporating representatives from developing countries in Latin America as permanent members, a position he reiterated last Thursday in Washington, and which undoubtedly was part of the dialogue with Bachelet.
In the race for the position of UN Secretary-General, to succeed António Guterres, are also the Argentine Rafael Grossi, the Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, and the Senegalese Macky Sall.