BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid a visit Thursday to former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is currently under house arrest and serving a six-year prison sentence for corruption.
Lula, in Buenos Aires for the Mercosur Summit, made the private visit after the summit concluded. The meeting lasted just under an hour and took place at Fernández’s home in the capital. The two did not make any public appearances together.
Fernández, 72, had received court approval to meet with Lula, her longtime political and ideological ally. She later took to X (formerly Twitter), calling the visit “a political act of solidarity,” and shared images of the two embracing.
Fernández was convicted of fraudulently directing government contracts to a friend during her time as both First Lady and President. In addition to her six-year sentence, she was banned for life from holding public office. Her conviction was upheld by Argentina’s Supreme Court in June.
Lula, who once served time himself on corruption charges before his conviction was overturned, expressed his support for Fernández during a phone call after the ruling. On Thursday, he posted on X, encouraging her to “continue your fight for justice.”
Fernández referenced Lula’s legal battle in her post, comparing their situations as examples of “lawfare,” or the use of the legal system for political persecution. Lula faced prison time in 2019 but later returned to power, a trajectory Fernández seemed to admire.
The visit underscores the enduring alliance between two of South America’s most influential left-wing leaders, both of whom have shaped regional politics over the last two decades.
