The international reaction to Lula's interview with Brasil 247

A exclusive interview President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's interview with TV 247 resonated in the foreign press, both for internal (interest rate) and external (peace between Russia and Ukraine) issues. In Argentina, the newspapers and news websites La Nación, Perfil, Infobae and Clarín en Português dedicated space to President Lula's statements on Tuesday (21), in Brasília.

The repercussions confirm, once again, the political and economic importance of Brazil, the largest country in terms of population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Latin America, according to data available from the World Bank. Lula's return to the Presidency is another factor in the increased interest in the country's internal and external direction – commonly referred to in neighboring countries as 'the giant' of the region.

Based on information from the international news agencies ANSA (Italy) and AFP (France), the newspaper La Nación published in its print edition this Thursday that Lula will speak with the President of China, Xi Jinping, about the war in Ukraine. "From Lula, before his meeting with Xi: 'In China, I will talk about peace'," the headline reads.

The article reports that the president recalled, during the interview, that he had already spoken with Joe Biden, President of the United States, with Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, that "Brazil is willing to make any effort to guarantee peace," and that Lula described the Chinese leader's trip to Moscow, where he met with Vladimir Putin, as "good news." "We condemn the invasion of Ukraine's territorial integrity. We think Russia shouldn't have done that, but it did; the war has been going on there for a year. So, it's necessary to find someone who talks about peace, because the United States doesn't talk about peace (...)," published the Argentine newspaper, which referenced TV 247. On its website, the same newspaper reported on Tuesday afternoon, based on information from the Madrid-based Europa Press agency, that Lula said it was "absurd" that the Central Bank is maintaining interest rates at 13,75%. "During an interview with TV 247, the Brazilian president lamented the Bank's 'irresponsibility,' arguing that it is not fulfilling its duty to guarantee economic growth and job creation," published the La Nación portal in Buenos Aires.

The Bloomberg news agency's article followed the same line, highlighting that the president spoke of "absurdity" when referring to the Central Bank and the 13,75% interest rate. The text was published in the Argentinian newspaper Perfil, also from Buenos Aires. "Lula da Silva attacks the Central Bank of Brazil over interest rates," reads the portal's headline. Also based on information from international agencies, the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio highlighted Lula's criticism of interest rates and the current direction of the Central Bank. "I will continue talking about this and fighting to reduce interest rates so that the economy recovers investments," reproduced the Chilean portal, which is part of one of Chile's oldest and most traditional newspapers.

 The widespread media coverage of internal and external affairs related to Brazil indicates that Lula's trip to China this weekend, and the anticipation surrounding the fiscal framework project, which, as he said, will be presented upon his return from Beijing, will also attract the attention of the foreign press. With this trip, Lula will have visited, in the first three months, Brazil's three main trading partners – China, the United States, and Argentina.