Lula faces harsh criticism from French newspaper, Liberation

French newspaper Liberation has featured President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on its cover, labeling him a “disappointment” and a “false friend of the West.”

The criticism primarily stems from Lula’s positions regarding the war in Ukraine. Liberation accuses Lula of failing to ostracize Russia, seen as a pariah in the West, due to its invasion of Ukraine.

The invitation extended to Nicolás Maduro to participate in a meeting of South American presidents in Brasilia has also been viewed unfavorably by the publication.

Liberation questions whether Lula is unaware of the abuses committed in the “Bolivarian Republic of Authoritarianism.”

On the international stage, Lula was expected to be a “messiah,” according to the newspaper, but turned out to be a mirage or a blurred image.

The challenges Lula faces with Congress have not gone unnoticed either. Despite his ambitions, Liberation suggests that Lula’s “hands are tied by Congress.”

While the criticism is evident, the newspaper acknowledges that Lula’s stance is still viewed as preferable to that of his predecessor, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula’s meeting with President Emmanuel Macron is described as an attempt to revive strained bilateral relations during Bolsonaro’s tenure.

Lula’s diplomatic activities are highlighted, as he has engaged in multiple trips abroad and met with over 30 world leaders, surpassing Bolsonaro’s record over four years.

The newspaper states that Lula ended “four years of a nightmare called Bolsonaro,” which was marked by accelerated deforestation, extreme polarization, and international isolation for Brazil.

This is the second time Lula has faced criticism from a French newspaper for his statements, following L’Express’s assessment that Lula’s diplomatic “magic” has faded, particularly due to the war in Ukraine and his proximity to Venezuela.

Libération, established in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973, is a French daily newspaper that emerged following the protest movements of May 1968.

The publication characterizes itself as having a “liberal libertarian” foundation.

Its primary objective is to serve as a unifying platform for the various ideological currents within the French Left.

Guided by the principle of safeguarding freedoms and protecting minority rights, Libération strives to create a space that accommodates diverse perspectives.