President of SBPC says there was “electoral fraud” in 2018 and criticizes “Republic of Curitiba”

The president of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), Renato Janine Ribeiro, said this Wednesday (12) that an “electoral fraud” in 2018 “brought to power those who would never win free and fair elections”. He also said that the “Republic of Curitiba”, as Lava Jato’s activities in the capital of Paraná are known, is a “coup leader”.

Ribeiro served as Minister of Education for Dilma Rousseff (PT). The statement was made during the event promoted by the federal government in honor of the Day of Science and Researcher. The ceremony was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and ministers. The petista did not run in the 2018 election because he was arrested after the conviction in the second instance in a Lava Jato process.

“And I also remember that now that the so-called ‘Republic of Curitiba’, a coup leader, is over, his victory will mark the return of Curitiba to the Republic, to republican values. With you being welcomed by those who defended, within the scope of the law, democracy in that state against the electoral fraud that brought to power those who would never win free and fair elections”, said Ribeiro addressing Lula during his speech.