Rio Carnival Opens With Lula Tribute Amid Election-Year Tensions

Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival kicked off with Academicos de Niteroi honoring serving president Lula da Silva, including a giant Lula float and leftist-themed displays, a divisive tribute in an election year that critics say amounts to early campaigning; the parade also featured anti-Bolsonaro imagery (a Bozo the Clown behind bars) as Lula and his wife watched from VIP boxes, highlighting Brazil’s polarized political moment.