Lula criticizes Bolsonaro, pastors and Lava Jato in refinery

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) criticized pastors, former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and Operation Lava Jato when speaking during the expansion ceremony of the Abreu e Lima Refinery, in Ipojuca, in the metropolitan region of Recife, Pernambuco , a refinery that is a symbol of corruption, on the afternoon of this Thursday (18).

When criticizing Lava Jato, without naming names, but making some of his references clear, Lula said that what happened in the country was a “collusion between some judges in this country and the United States” and that “pastors who lied are going to hell “.

“The story will still be told, because you know that, many times, history still takes years, decades and even centuries for us to know the truth. But I will say one thing as president of the Republic of this country: everything that happened in this country was a collusion between some judges in this country, some prosecutors in this country subordinate to the United States Department of Justice, who wanted and never accepted Brazil having a company like Petrobras”, said Lula.

The Abreu e Lima refinery was inaugurated during Lula’s first government and became known as the “most expensive refinery in the world”, in addition to having irregularities highlighted by the Federal Audit Court (TCU) and by the Lava Jato operation. Initially, the project was supposed to cost US$2 billion, but it consumed at least US$18.5 billion.

In operation since the end of 2014, it now processes up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day, half of what was projected, since the corruption scandal and budget overrun led Petrobras to interrupt work on the rest of the unit.

The PT member also recalled the beginning of the refinery, in partnership with Venezuela, a country that is Lula’s political ally, but he said “thank God” for the fact that Brazil carried out the work alone. Another episode remembered was his arrest in the 1980s, when he was released for his mother’s funeral, and a few years ago, when he was not allowed to go to his brother, Vavá’s. “There were better judges back then.” In January 2019, the request was denied by the Federal Criminal Executions Court of Curitiba and the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4).

Criticism of pastors and Bolsonaro

Throughout the series of criticisms of Lava Jato, Lula cited the 2018 election and even referred to Bolsonaro as a “psychopath”. “We need to know how much money this country lost in these 10 years of delay in this company, how much salary was not paid, how many people do not have benefits in this country, how much this country lost in its international competitiveness until it reached the point of electing a psychopath as be president of this country”, said Lula.

When dealing with his judicial convictions, the PT member said that pastors “lied”. “The people who accused me are rotting because they know they lied, and they know that hell awaits them for so much lying. The pastors know they lied, they know they are lying and that God is watching. However, it is part of a sordid game, perhaps the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Lula, without naming names.

Refinery will have investment of R$6 billion to R$8 billion

The expansion, according to the government, will improve the flow of light products and the pre-salt oil processing capacity, reducing international dependence. It is part of Petrobras’ Strategic Plan 2024-28+ and the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).

Petrobras plans to invest R$6 billion to R$8 billion to reach 260,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2028, as announced at the event by the president of the state-owned company, Jean Paul Prates. “When (the refinery) earns revenue, it will earn US$100 billion a year,” said Lula.

The value of the investments is part of the US$17 billion budget approved by the company for the areas of refining, marketing and logistics over the next five years.

Lula’s visit is part of a strategy to strengthen ties with voters in the Northeast as the 2024 municipal elections approach. During the week, the PT member also goes to the states of Bahia and Ceará.