Lula lost admiration for abandoning Western causes, says Ricupero

Former Finance Minister Rubens Ricupero stated in an interview published this Saturday (13), in the newspaper The State of S. Paulothat the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, no longer had the admiration he previously had in foreign countries because he abandoned the causes defended by the West.

“He was unable to regain the admiration he had in his first two terms because, on that occasion, he appeared as a man who defended causes that Westerners also defended,” said Ricupero.

“Some of the causes that Lula has sought are different [das] of Western countries. Starting with Ukraine, which he had, from the beginning, a very zigzag, very uncertain position. He has already made five or six statements, and what remains is that, deep down, he has a benevolent attitude towards Putin, towards Russia. This kind of thing puts it on a collision course with the United States, England, France, Germany. Nobody sympathizes with Brazil’s position in relation to Ukraine,” he added.

For Ricupero, Lula’s position on the war in the Middle East also damaged his image abroad. “Also in the case of Israel, he has exaggerated his words a little, although there is great concern in the world about what is happening there. He is admired today for human rights and above all for the environment in which he has achieved a lot,” he said. .

Ricupero also criticized Lula’s decision to “roll out a red carpet” for Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro. “Lula placed trust in Nicolás Maduro when, a few months ago, he held a meeting of presidents in Brasília to refound Unasur [União de Nações Sul-Americanas]. But she couldn’t. Lula rolled out the red carpet for Maduro,” said the former minister.

“Lula certainly wanted to show that he could have a special relationship with Venezuela and Maduro. But Maduro, by creating this serious problem with Guyana, showed that Lula made a wrong bet, he trusted a person who didn’t deserve it”, he added.