Bolsonaro targets Lula in 1st speech on his return to Brazil and says that PT will not do ‘what he wants’ – 03/30/2023 – Politics

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Thursday (30) that the current legislature in the National Congress is better than the previous one and that is why they will not allow the Lula government to do “whatever it wants with the fate of our nation”.

Bolsonaro also said that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is “in power for a short time”.

“I remember back when someone criticized parliament, Ulysses Guimarães would say: ‘wait for the next one’. This time, the next one improved a lot. it has to be done and showing these people who, for now, are in power for a short time, they are not going to do what they want with the destiny of our nation”, he said.

Bolsonaro made the remarks upon arriving for an event at the PL headquarters in Brasília, his first appointment after returning from the United States. He will meet with supporters, including the president of the party, Valdemar Costa Neto.

Also waiting for him at the PL headquarters were former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro and the party’s secretary of Institutional Relations, general Walter Braga Netto, who was a candidate for vice on his ticket in the last presidential elections.

Bolsonaro landed this Thursday morning (30) in Brasília, after an 89-day stay in the United States. The former president arrived around 7 am, on a commercial flight that had departed from Orlando late Wednesday night.

The Secretariat of Public Security of the Federal District prepared a special security scheme for the arrival of the former president.

The former representative left the airport and went straight to the headquarters of the PL, to meet supporters. At the request of Jair Bolsonaro, the event was not open to the press.

“Next week, Jair Bolsonaro formally assumes the role of President of Honor of the Liberal Party and should normally dispatch in his office”, informed the PL in a note.

Still at the Orlando airport, shortly before boarding, the former president had stated that he did not intend to lead the opposition to the Lula government.

“The PL holds almost 20% of the benches in the Chamber and the Senate. I say: I will not lead any opposition. I will participate with my party, as an experienced person, 28 years in the Chamber, four as president, two as councilor and 15 Army, to collaborate with those who so wish,” he told the TV network.

A Sheet he did not respond to the summons made by the Federal Police to testify about the case of the jewels presented by Saudi Arabia.

Bolsonaro left for the United States on December 30, on the eve of the end of his presidential term. The objective was not to need to pass the sash to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), thus ignoring the democratic rhythm of symbolically transferring power to his successor.

The then president had already maintained a reclusive posture after the defeat in the second round of the elections, with few public appearances. He thus fed coup sentiment and hope among his supporters, particularly in the camps in front of army barracks in different parts of the country.

During his stay in the United States, Bolsonaro stayed in the Orlando area, initially in the house that belongs to former MMA fighter José Aldo. He used to go out to talk to supporters who gathered in front of the residence. The former president also participated in conservative political events.

Such as Sheet showed, spending with public money for the ex-president’s trip was already close to R$ 1 million in February.

Bolsonaro’s return to the country comes amid the controversy over jewelry coming from Saudi Arabia, a case that has been causing damage to the image of the former president, who may also be held liable in court.

This Wednesday (29), the former president and his former assistant, lieutenant colonel Mauro Cid, were summoned by the Federal Police to testify about the case. The depositions were scheduled for the 5th of April.

Through his lawyers, Bolsonaro delivered part of the jewelry he received as a gift from Saudi Arabia in 2021 to Caixa Econômica Federal on Friday (24th). The kit includes a watch, pen, cuff links, a ring and a type of rosary, all from the Swiss diamond brand Chopard.

On the same day, a weapons kit was delivered to the Federal Police, also by determination of the TCU (Union Court of Accounts).

The court also determined that the jewelry and watch set valued at BRL 16.5 million that would be for the former first lady, retained by the Revenue at Guarulhos airport (SP) in 2021, should also be sent to Caixa.