Bolsonaro's party gears up to be Lula's opposition, will back him again in 2026

FILE PHOTO: Brazil's Liberal Party President Valdemar Costa Neto looks on during a meeting with parliamentarians from his party in Brasilia, Brazil, November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

BRASILIA (Reuters) -The party of Brazilian far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, recently defeated by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will be the main opposition to Lula when he takes office on Jan. 1, its leader, Valdemar Costa Neto, said on Tuesday.

The right-wing Liberal Party (PL) emerged from elections last month as the largest party in the Brazilian Congress, riding the unexpected rise in support for Bolsonaro, who narrowly lost his re-election bid to Lula.