Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva shouts world leaders over pandemic response

Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva shouts world leaders over pandemic response

by
In an exclusive interview with CNN Christiane Amanpour, the former leader, often referred to as Lula, said the world ‘lacks leadership’.

“The United Nations should have already asked for an extraordinary general meeting, a virtual meeting, to discuss Covid 19,” he told Amanpour from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“Rulers do not act like rulers,” he added. “Everyone thinks alone.”

Da Silva also said that the G20 should make coronavirus vaccines immediately available around the world, and allow poorer countries to pay for them later. ‘People, no matter how much money the country may have … can receive the vaccines … we will repay [for] that vaccine after we ended up with the virus, after we won that war. ‘

“I will not deny the invitation”

In his first one-on-one interview since a judge last week declared Silva’s criminal convictions null and void – which effectively restored his right to stand for election – the energetic former president gave the most telling sign that he was would set preferable. told Amanpour that he would not “deny” an invitation to the 2022 presidential race.

“When it comes to the moment to run in the election, and if my party and the other allies understand that I can be the candidate, and if I am healthy, with the energy and strength I have today “I can assure you that I will not deny the invitation,” the 75-year-old said.

He also said he was inspired by Joe Biden’s successful presidential campaign. “When I saw that Biden was elected, I thought he was 77! I’m still 75 and I say every day that I’m 75 years old, but the energy and power of 30.”

Da Silva, who was elected president of the Labor Party in 2002, remained in power until 2013, when his elected successor Dilma Rousseff became the country’s first female president. An attempt to return in 2018 was thwarted after the country’s ‘Car Wash’ investigation culminated in his conviction for corruption and money laundering, which he denied.
Investigations launched after Bolsonaro told Brazilians to investigate hospitals themselves

Da Silva was released from prison in 2019. Judge Edson Fachin, the Supreme Court’s judge for annulling his convictions, said the Curitiba city court that found him guilty acted outside his jurisdiction. Fachin ordered a retrial in the Federal Court of Brasilia.

In his interview with Amanpour, Da Silva calls his case ‘the greatest judicial farce in the history of 500 years of Brazil’. He will have ‘no problem’ being tried or judged again, he added. “There is only one Brazilian who wants to know the truth at the moment and only the truth: it is me.”

If the left-wing former leader is still clear in October 2022, he could challenge right-wing current president Jair Bolsonaro at the ballot box.
Former Brazilian President Lula attacks Bolsonaro as his path to political return clears

The former president said the country plagued by pandemics could not continue with Bolsonaro at the helm. “We need to call to select or re-elect someone who has the mindset that is different from Bolsonaro.”

Bolsonaro has been widely criticized for his handling of the pandemic, as Brazil faces a devastating coronavirus revival. One of the worst-hit countries in the world, Brazil reported 2,648 additional deaths and 90,303 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday – the highest daily increase since the pandemic began.

Da Silva weakened the current government’s efforts to contain the outbreak, saying “there is no control in Brazil.” Describing “essentials” – something Bolsonaro has frequently rejected – he favorably compared the country’s current coronavirus strategy to that of former US President Donald Trump, saying ‘here in Brazil and also in the US with President Trump, the lack of responsibility was tremendous. ‘

“[Bolsonaro] prefers to wake up at four in the morning, tell his lies via his cell phone, via social media, and we’ve given fake news like we’ve never seen in the history of Brazil, and he’s not serious about not, ‘said da Silva.

Da Silva also said Bolsonaro should have ‘set aside money for healthcare and part of our budget to finance small and medium-sized businesses, and part of the money to invest in infrastructure works that could create jobs’.

The Covid-19 boom in Brazil pushes hospitals to overflow

Bolsonaro accused da Silva’s criticism of being politically motivated, defending his management of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that local officials have the power to take the necessary controls and that he is acting in the economic interests of citizens.

As reported by CNN, some members of the Brazilian public did not accept the social distancing measures, according to an example set by the current president. In a message to Brazilians, da Silva begged them to ‘stay at home’ for the sake of humanity and the nation ‘.

‘We can not allow a citizen … to think that he has the right to go out into the streets without masks, to go to gatherings and parties without taking it [into] says that he can also go home with the virus again and pass it on to the mother, father and grandmother. ‘

.Source