Maduro’s capture helps Lula reclaim patriotism from Bolsonarismo and argue that sovereignty belongs to the democratic left, too. File photograph of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His son now leads the conservative space, turning October into another confrontation between Lula’s coalition and the Bolsonaro right. After appearing at a Brazilian Liberal Party convention supporting Flávio, Milei again called Lula a thief and corrupt, provoking a diplomatic crisis. Lula’s defense pledge sits inside that struggle.