Lula da Silva changes his tone and denies talking about reviewing privatizations

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT, left) said Monday (12) that he did not want to discuss reviewing privatizations.

He argued that it was necessary to “get a grip on the situation” if he is elected for a third term.

“I’m not talking about reviewing privatization. I’m going to win the elections; I have to get a grip on the situation. I need to know that the country needs food for the people first and foremost,” he said.

The Brazilian presidential candidate participated in an interview conducted by CNN Brazil.

However, the statement represents a change in tone from his recent remarks on the issue.

In June, Lula da Silva said in a Natal (RN) speech that he would talk to business people who wanted to buy part of public companies, such as Eletrobras.

“The businessmen buying public companies at a low price should be prepared for me to call them to talk about the issue of privatization,” he said at the time.

The guidelines of Lula da Silva’s government plan also “put on paper” opposition to the sale of state-owned companies.

The document mentioned Petrobras (and PPSA), Eletrobras, and the Post Office.

Lula da Silva also spoke of reviewing privatizations:

• February 24, 2022 – “Serious businessmen who want to buy Eletrobras should be careful. Because we will discuss again what is happening in these privatizations.”
• March 3, 2022 – “Businessmen who want to buy this company should be careful. Because if the PT wins the elections, we’ll want to rediscuss the role of the sovereign in Brazil by looking at our nose and taking our energy into our own hands.”

During the interview with host William Waack, the former president also criticized the power Congress currently has over determining the Union’s budget and said he would talk to all elected officials to change that situation.

“We’re going to have to talk and say we can’t have a personal budget; we’re not going to allow Congress to own the budget. […] We have to talk to those elected, not those who were alternates or lost, whether they like it or not,” he said.

Lula da Silva also hinted that former governor Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), who is running for vice president on his list, could play a role as a political spokesman for the possible new government.

“When I chose Alckmin as my vice president, I knew we had to articulate a lot in Brasilia to change the fact that the president is hostage to Congress,” he said.

The former socialist president also said that part of the agribusiness industry was against his candidacy because in a possible government of his, “there will be no deforestation in the Amazon.”

“The agribusiness has never received so much funding as from PT governments. The fact that they don’t like PT is not because of a lack of funding. The problem they have with us today is that there will be no deforestation in the Amazon,” he said.

Asked if he thought the entire sector was defending deforestation, Lula da Silva toned down his speech, saying that responsible people in the agribusiness sector were pursuing environmental protection measures because the business community was accusing Brazil.

“There are many responsible people who care about the environment, who are trying to preserve it,” he said.

With information from Poder360

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