Lula tries to justify trips abroad in 2023 without citing expenses of R$9.6 million

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said on Thursday night (25) that his return to the presidency was seen with “expectation in all countries of the world” when trying to justify the 15 international trips he made in 2023 alone. around the world cost R$9.6 million on corporate cards alone, according to People’s Gazette revealed earlier.

Lula acknowledged that he is “regarded as a president who travels abroad a lot”, but that Brazil “has never before in history been as respected in the world as it is now”.

“I didn’t know that my return to the Presidency of the Republic and the overthrow of denialism in this country would generate so much expectation in every country in the world”, said Lula during a speech in São Paulo, highlighting that his prestige extends from the United States to China.

“From the United States to India, from China to Germany, from Mexico to the African countries, which I will visit in the coming days, I have never heard so much positive expectation for Brazil’s return,” he added in a post on social media.

The attempt to justify the 15 international trips occurred after Planalto identified criticism of Lula’s image due to the high mileage driven only in the first year of government. The president, however, did not explain the R$9.6 spent on corporate cards, according to data collected by columnist Lúcio Vaz through the Access to Information Law (LAI).

According to the investigation, the resources were spent on ground, flight and telephone support services, not including expenses from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The data is also not complete, as some were denied with the justification of putting the president’s safety at risk.

“Information held by public bodies and entities, due to its indispensability to the security of society or the State, may be classified as top secret, secret or reserved”, explains the Presidency.

In total, Lula visited 24 countries in 2023 in 62 days. The longest trip took place at the end of the year, when he spent 8 days on an itinerary through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Germany, at a cost of R$1.012 million according to Vaz’s findings.

The trip to Hiroshima, Japan, in May, was the most expensive and cost R$1.66 million in 6 days.

On the other hand, Lula has already confirmed that he will slow down in 2024 to focus on domestic trips to articulate support for allies who will contest the municipal elections. “Get ready because I’m going to tour Brazil. I want to visit Brazil, I want to visit the cities, talk to mayors, the people, the governors,” she said at the end of 2023.

He said, at the time, that he intends to make only two trips abroad this year to participate in the African Union meeting, in Ethiopia, and to Guyana, to participate in the Caricom conference, the community of Caribbean countries.