Lula makes fun of Flávio Dino’s obesity again, even after negative repercussions – 06/15/2023 – Politics

President Lula (PT) once again joked about the obesity of Minister Flávio Dino (Justice) this Thursday (15th), despite having already received criticism for previous mentions of the subject.

Lula referred to Dino’s obesity during his opening speech at the ministerial meeting held at the Planalto Palace. This speech was broadcast on official government networks, but the remainder of the event will be closed.

At a certain point in his speech, the president stressed that the meeting would be long, as each member of his government, in addition to the leaders in Congress, would have 10 minutes to speak. That’s why the ministers would need to have lunch during the event, while another speaker was on the floor.

“This meeting will take at least 6 hours or a little more. We won’t have lunch. Lunch will be light food served here at the table, no one needs to get up. While one speaks, the others eat and so we take turns tasting at lunchtime”, stated the president.

“Flávio Dino too, but we’re going to bring him little food”, he added, drawing laughter from those present.

Soon after, an unidentified participant says “this is bullying”.

This was not the first time that Lula joked about Flávio Dino’s obesity. During the launch ceremony of Pronasci (National Program for Public Security with Citizenship), the president classified obesity as a disease that causes as much harm as hunger, requiring State care for this problem. And then he said that Dino would now be exercising, riding his bike, because he was overweight.

“Nobody here is too thin, except for our poet. The rest are all a bit obese, which is also a disease that we need to take care of. Our doctor who is Minister of Health knows perfectly well that obesity it causes as much harm as hunger. And that’s why Flávio Dino is riding a bicycle, because he knows that this will require the State to take care of this evil with great affection”, said the president.

The president’s speech drew criticism from opposition members on social media. Federal deputy Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil-SP), wrote: “Hello, boring people who think obesity is beautiful: Lula said the obvious here. Are you going to call him a gordophobic too? Or are you going to stop glamorizing a disease?”

Federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) published a tweet saying there were double standards involving the president. “Lula says that trans bathrooms are Satan’s invention and that obesity is a disease and he jokes about it. It doesn’t matter what he says, but who says it. Just for the record.”

The MBL (Movimento Brasil Livre) page also reacted, reposting the video and asking “And now? Will it be canceled or can it?”