Lula in Lisbon: what’s on the agenda?

This episode of The Briefing explores Brazil's President Lula da Silva's diplomatic visit to Portugal, part of a broader European tour aimed at strengthening ties with left-leaning allies and promoting Brazil's technological and renewable energy capabilities beyond its agricultural reputation. Host Chris Chermak is joined by Monocle correspondents Carlota Ribello in Lisbon and Fernando Augusto Pacheco in London, who discuss Lula’s meetings with Portuguese President António José Seguro and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, with key topics including Brazil’s push for increased energy exports, the contentious revision of Portugal’s nationality law affecting Brazilian immigrants, and far-right protests led by Andre Ventura accusing Lula of corruption. The episode also covers Hungary’s political transformation following Peter Magyar’s landslide victory over Viktor Orbán, with Sarah Benches detailing the euphoric mood among Hungarians and Magyar’s aggressive plans to dismantle Orbán-era institutions, including the national broadcaster. In a separate segment, Brian Spiegel examines a growing trend of Chinese citizens returning from the U.S., driven by safety concerns, high living costs, and a sense of reverse racism, alongside strong pull factors like proximity to family and competitive salaries in China’s tech sector. Finally, Grace Charlton reports from Milan’s Salone del Mobile, highlighting the event’s scale, vibrant atmosphere, and the rise of collectible design as a new focus within the fair.