Carnival tribute to Brazil's Lula in Rio sparks political backlash

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends opening ceremony of the judicial year at the Supreme Court in Brasilia, Brazil February 2, 2026. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - ⁠When Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva learned that a samba school in Rio de Janeiro would base its carnival parade this year on his journey from factory ⁠worker to president, he broke into tears and then smiled for pictures holding the school's flag.

But, as Rio's world‑famous carnival parade approached, the tribute became a political headache.