March 10 (UPI) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will not attend Wednesday's presidential inauguration in Chile despite having previously confirmed his participation, according to Brazilian media reports citing sources at the presidential palace.
Government teams already have arrived in Chile ahead of the ceremony. However, the confirmed presence of Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, a political rival and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, reportedly influenced Lula's decision, CNN Brasil reported.
Lula had been invited personally by Chile's president-elect, conservative leader José Antonio Kast, during a meeting in Panama in January. At the time, Lula indicated he would attend. A bilateral meeting in the Chilean port city of Valparaíso, home to the country's Congress, also had been scheduled before the official ceremony.
On Tuesday morning, Brazil's Secretariat of Social Communication confirmed the cancellation after Lula met with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who will represent Brazil at the inauguration, newspaper O Globo reported.
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