Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pushed back Sunday against harsh US criticism of the conviction this week of his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro on coup charges.

In his first public reaction to Bolsonaro's conviction, Lula wrote in a New York Times opinion column -- addressed to US counterpart Donald Trump -- that he was "proud" of the Supreme Court verdict which "safeguards our institutions and the democratic rule of law."

"This was not a 'witch hunt'" as Trump and other US officials have called the trial, Lula wrote in a guest essay titled: "Brazilian democracy and sovereignty are non-negotiable."

Trump's ally Bolsonaro, 70, was convicted in a 4-1 decision of plotting a coup to overthrow leftist rival Lula following the far-right leader's October 2022 election defea

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