Fears of closer ties between the PT and Russia could explain Lula’s inclusion, experts say.
A report by the Ukrainian government’s Center for Conservation of Disinformation pointed out that former presidential and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) is one of the international figures to spread information in line with Russia’s terrorist propaganda. The war with Ukraine, which began in February, after Russia occupied parts of the neighboring country.
The report was published in the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo on Monday, 25/7. Lula is the only Brazilian on the list, which includes many politicians and intellectuals from many other countries such as the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The report cites two allegations attributed to the former president. The first is that he allegedly claims that Russia should “lead a new world order” and that “Zelensky is as guilty of war as Putin”.
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BBC News Brasil could not find quotes from Lula arguing that Russia should “manage” a new world order. The former president, on the other hand, recently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s performance in handling the crisis with Russia.
In an interview with Time magazine published in May this year, Lula said Zelensky would be as responsible for the war as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Sometimes I watch the Ukrainian president on TV as if he’s having a party, standing ovation by all parliaments, you know? This man is as responsible as Putin. He is as responsible as Putin. He is the only criminal,” said the former president.
International affairs experts heard by BBC News Brasil say Lula’s comments may not be the only explanation behind PT’s listing.
Reasons for these include Ukraine’s fears of a possible new PT government approaching Russia, and claims that Ukrainian government sectors are linked to far-right groups. To them, this explains the absence of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who, like Lula, has made critical statements against Zelensky in recent months.
“People [ucraniano] trusted a comedian who was the destiny of a nation. HE [Volodymyr Zelensky] Bolsonaro said in February that you need to have the balance to deal with this situation out there.
BBC News Brasil sent questions to the Ukrainian embassy and the press office of former president Lula. Neither sent a reply.
Approaching Russia
Larlecianne Piccolli, doctor of international strategic studies and research director of the South American Institute of Policy and Strategy (Isape), believes that Lula’s name on the list may be related to the history of relations between Brazil and Russia. PT governments, especially during the governments of former President Lula between 2003 and 2010.
According to the expert, the Brazilian government at that time advocated a multipolar international order as an alternative to North American hegemony.
One of the ways found for this was to encourage the formation of blocs such as the BRICS, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. By this logic, a new PT government could weaken Ukraine’s efforts to isolate Russia on the international stage.
“I think Ukraine may be looking into the future and seeing what a possible new Lula government could mean in terms of strengthening Russia. I think they see Lula’s leadership in the polls and are assessing the implications for Ukraine,” he said. sign.
For Mariana Kalil, doctor of International Relations and professor at the Defense Department’s War College (ESG), President Jair Bolsonaro’s current position on the conflict is considered less relevant than a final rapprochement between Brazil and Russia. a new PT government.
Under Bolsonaro, the Brazilian government condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine at United Nations (UN) meetings, but the country did not comply with the economic sanctions imposed by countries such as the USA and Europe.
Bolsonaro said his government was “neutral” on the conflict, despite the fact that he paid a visit to Putin a few days before the Russian invasion and praised the Russian President and called him a “man of peace”.
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“In the Bolsonaro government, Brazil adopted pro-Western concepts that are interesting for Ukraine today. A possible Lula government would not have the same vision, and this may be worrying for Ukrainians,” says Mariana Kalil.
Rightmost links
Mariana Kalil highlights another reason why Ukrainians include Lula’s name: the connection of sectors of the Ukrainian government with far-right movements.
For him, this explains why Lula is mentioned, despite the absence of Bolsonaro, who sees himself as a right-wing politician and made statements critical of Zelensky.
“This move [inclusão do nome de Lula] It makes sense when we know that Zelensky is getting into the global far right. Therefore, it would make sense for the government to talk about Lula, a left-wing politician, and not Bolsonaro,” says the expert.
But the Ukraine list does not only show left-wing politicians and intellectuals. He quotes, for example, French Marine Le Pen, leader of the radical right party Rassemblement National. Known for advocating anti-immigration agendas in France and Europe.
Links between the Ukrainian government and far-right movements are often cited by the Russian government as one of the reasons that led to the invasion of Ukraine by the country’s military.
The subject is considered sensitive. For example, Russia said that one of the goals of its invasion of Ukraine was to “seaize” the country. But President Zelensky is Jewish.
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John-Paul Himka, emeritus professor of history at the University of Alberta in Canada, said in an interview with BBC News Brazil in March that levels of political tolerance for far-right movements in Ukraine were similar to those found in other countries around the world. . world.
“We need to look at the broader global context of Ukraine’s tolerance of the far right. I live in Canada. Recently the border crossings and the capital have been besieged by the far-right convoy movement,” said the expert.
But Larlecianne Piccolli agrees with Mariana Kalil.
“It is public knowledge that there are links between sectors of the Ukrainian government and far-right movements. If you add this to a possible fear of what the elections in Brazil might represent for Ukrainian strategy, it is possible to better understand what might have motivated Lula’s inclusion on this list and Bolsonaro’s absence,” says Larlecianne.
In an interview published this week on TV Globo, Zelensky denied the existence of far-right groups operating against the Russian occupation in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the statements, there is evidence that far-right groups such as the Azov Battalion, which has fought against the Russian occupation since the 2014 invasion of Crimea, maintain ties with the Ukrainian government.
Mariana Kalil says the inclusion of Lula’s name on this list took place in the immediate vicinity of the military exercise planned by Russia, China and Iran in Venezuela in August this year.
“One of the arguments used by the radical right against the left in Brazil is the so-called risk of Venezuelanization of the country. In the context of military exercises, tying Lula’s name to Russia can rekindle this theme,” says the expert.
Message to the Americans
Mariana Kalil points to a third reason for including Lula on the list of alleged spreaders of Russian propaganda: pressure on the Americans.
According to him, as Ukraine will see a PT government closer to Russia than Bolsonaro, the commemoration of Lula will have the goal of putting pressure on Americans over what might happen in Brazil from 2023.
“I think they say they mean: ‘Americans, look what can happen in Brazil. It’s not going to be good for us,'” concludes the expert.
– This text was published in: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-62301305
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source: Noticias
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