Lula says coup attempt was ‘revolt of the rich’ – 02/06/2023 – Politics

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) used the speech at the inauguration of the new BNDES president, Aloizio Mercadante, to criticize those responsible for the January 8 coup attacks.

“What happened in the Planalto Palace, in Congress and in the STF was a revolt by the rich who lost the elections. We cannot play around, because one day the poor people may get tired of being poor and make things change in this country”, said Lula this Monday (6).

Lula attributed the coup acts to the elite’s nonconformity with the defeat of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the elections.

The PF (Federal Police) has carried out operations to identify participants, financiers and promoters of attacks on the headquarters of the three Powers, in Brasília.

The PT again highlighted the importance of “social balance” along with fiscal balance. He recalled that today there are 33 million people going hungry.

“If we disappoint these people and they stop believing in us, I don’t know what will become of this country. This country cannot continue to be governed by a section of society, it has to be governed by the majority.”

Lula again attacked the disinformation network linked to Bolsonaro. She pointed out that the BNDES, called a “black box” by the former president, was one of the victims of his predecessor’s “lies”.

The president recalled the contributions to infrastructure works in neighboring countries, especially Cuba and Venezuela, governed by left-wing dictatorships.

And he said that Bolsonaro did not want to collect debts to have an argument to attack the PT governments.

“Another big lie is that the BNDES gave money to other countries. The BNDES never gave money to government-friendly governments. The bank financed Brazilian engineering services for works in 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean”

“The countries that didn’t pay, be it Cuba or Venezuela, didn’t pay because the president [Bolsonaro] decided to break off relations and not charge so he could attack us.”

In the afternoon, Lula participated in the inauguration of the ophthalmology and diagnosis units at the Rio de Janeiro City Hall’s Super Carioca Health Center, accompanied by the mayor, Eduardo Paes (PSD), and the governor, Cláudio Castro (PL).

The petista said he asked the mayor to present projects for the city to receive federal funds.

“Dear Eduardo Paes, not just because of you, or because of the governor. It’s because of the love I have for the Marvelous City that I say to you: don’t give me a speech. Present a project and the money will appear. If you don’t have a project, has no money,” said the president.

An ally of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the election last year, Castro was the target of boos from the public when he was called to speak.

“We have demonstrated the maturity of working together, taking from paper what the population needs. It is proof that it does not matter who does it, but our ability to work together”, said the governor.

Paes praised Castro, whom he did not support in last year’s election.

“We didn’t have an electoral alliance, but we have to point out that Governor Cláudio Castro, over these two years, has been an enormous partner. He never let himself be contaminated by low politics”, said the mayor.