Brazil's Lula says Bolsonaro push for military audit of voting machines 'deplorable'

FILE PHOTO: An electronic voting machine is seen during a simulation voting process of the electoral systems to be used in the Brazilian presidential election in Brasilia, Brazil September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva blasted outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday for involving the armed forces in auditing the country's electronic voting system, which the current president says without proof is open to fraud.

Lula, who narrowly defeated Bolsonaro last month, said the pressure to issue a report has been "humiliating" and "deplorable" for the military, which is constitutionally barred from engaging in politics.