In France, Lula is criticized by left-wing allies for supporting Russia

During his visit to the summit, Lula was criticized even by former allies of the French left. The main reason is support for Vladimir Putin and, to a lesser extent, the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. He was also criticized for defending the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.

According to consultant Cezar Roedel, who holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Lula approached Putin based on his ideological inclination and subjective interests. “Trying to take your personal interest into foreign policy creates a lot of confusion,” he said.

“Lula ends up being very discredited due to his position on the war in Ukraine. European countries and Western powers do not take what Lula is saying seriously,” he said.

The Brazilian president mistakenly claimed in several statements this year that Ukraine would be as guilty as Russia for the war. He has also repeatedly criticized Western countries for sending weapons to Ukraine to defend its territory.

The fact that Lula put up the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union also displeased those on the French left. This is because the agreement is seen as positive for Brazilian agribusiness.

Arnaud Le Gall, a parliamentary member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly, said he was disappointed with the PT. He classified Lula as “one of the first alternatives to neoliberalism in Latin America”.

The Brazilian president was even called a “false friend of the West” in an article in the newspaper Libération that had the title: “Lula, the disappointment”.