Lula says he ‘knows how to listen to advice’ and went to Lisbon to ‘learn from the success’ of the Portuguese government
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PT Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was acclaimed by an audience of Brazilians residing in Portugal who attended a meeting with the president-elect, this Saturday morning (19), at the University Institute of Lisbon. On Friday night, Lula and his wife, Rosângela da Silva, were hosted with a dinner hosted by the Portuguese prime minister, António Costa. The socialist welcomed Lula with a big hug and declared “that Portugal misses Brazil”.
Adriana Niemeyer, RFI correspondent in Lisbon
After an hour and a half meeting with the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de SousaLula arrived at the São Bento Palace for dinner, accompanied by Janja, and thanked Costa for supporting his candidacy.
With humility, the PT member said he came to Portugal to “learn” from the “success” achieved by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic, hailing Marcelo’s “political cleverness” and Costa’s political accomplishments. “I came here to see if we can do the same in Brazil and make it work”, he declared.
At a press conference in Lisbon, Lula issued the letter published by economists Armínio Fraga, Edmar Bacha and Pedro Malan addressed to him, in which he expressed concern about the fiscal policy he will adopt in his government.
“I haven’t read it yet, but I was happy to hear about a letter from important people alerting me about medical problems and giving suggestions. I know how to listen to advice and, if it makes sense, follow it”, said the president-elect. The message was also published in a Twitter post. Lula repeated that he always acted responsibly when he was president, and that he managed to lower paralysis, unemployment and the percentage of the country’s internal debt.
He also announced that the implementation of the Mercosur agreement with the European Union “is a campaign commitment”, commenting on statements by the Prime Minister of Portugal on the importance of trade relations between Latin American and European countries.
Lula, Janja and Haddad are applauded by Brazilians in Lisbon
The last appointment of the president-elect before leaving for Brazil, in order to work on the formation of the governmentwent to meet with the PT militancy that supported him during the campaign and with Brazilians residing in Lisbon, where he had a large vote.
He arrived at the Instituto Universitário in the Portuguese capital accompanied by Janja and Fernando Haddad, defeated in the election for the government of São Paulo, but quoted for the future ministry, including for the Economy portfolio. When Lula asked Janja to take the floor, the audience shouted “Janja represents us”, in allusion to the discussion created by journalist Eliane Cantanhêde, who criticized the political role of the future first lady.
The return trip to Brazil will be made in jet that took him to COP 27 in Egypt and has been the subject of much criticism because it was an aircraft owned by businessman José Seripieri Filho, known as Júnior, former owner of Qualicorp. He was one of the targets of Operation Lava Jato.
“I am grateful to my friend, who went with me to the COP and lent me his plane. I hope that he is willing, at another opportunity, (to lend me), before I assume the Presidency, because, from then on, in fact, I cannot”, presented Lula.
He also stated that he needs to take care of his security in the face of “angry Bolsonaristas spreading around the world”. And he indicated that he will be able to use the installment provided more times before assuming the Presidency.