President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated this Friday (23) that many people, due to a “lack of shame on their faces”, defend the owner of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro. The declaration was made during a ceremony in Maceió, Alagoas, for the delivery of 1,337 Minha Casa, Minha Vida homes in the municipality and to celebrate the milestone of 2 million hires for the program since 2023, a goal established by the government for this third Lula term.
Without mentioning the name of banker Daniel Vorcaro, it was the first time that Lula spoke out about the scandal involving Banco Master.
“It is not possible for us to continue seeing the poor being sacrificed, while a citizen, like this one from Banco Master, who embezzled more than R$40 billion. And who is going to pay? It’s the banks. It’s Banco do Brasil, it’s Caixa Econômica Federal, it’s Itaú. A citizen who embezzled almost R$40 billion in this country”, stated the president, referring to the resources of the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC), which will be used to pay creditors.
“So, comrades, there are people who defend it because there are also many people who lack a bit of shame in their faces in this country,” he added.
During the ceremony, the president cited results of his third government, such as the drop in inflation, which in October last year reached the lowest level in 27 years, and the increase in the number of jobs, with 5 million with a formal contract since 2023.
Lula said that 2026 will be the year of comparison and that he will compare the achievements of his three years in government, with those of the governments of former presidents Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro.
“We had two years of reconstruction, because we found this country dismantled”, he said, adding that “this year we will make the year of comparison”.
“Let’s compare everything we did in these three years with the Temer government and Bolsonaro, which together are almost eight years of government. Let’s compare who took care of the roads the most, who built the most roads, who took care of health the most, who built the most universities, the most federal institutes, who put the most students in universities”, he said.
Lula warned that people should be careful with fake news spread, especially on social media.
“We know that lies fly and the truth walks. We cannot allow lies to rule again”, he stated. “Don’t pass on lies, learn to distinguish between what is true and what is a lie. This country needs to put an end to hate and we need to return to having more fraternity, love, and being more friends with our friends”, he concluded.
The president appealed to men to get involved in combating violence against women. Lula recalled that the number of feminicide cases in the country is high and that the problem must be addressed.
“I want to say to the men, it is us men who have to have the courage and dignity to take on the defense of the fight against violence aimed at women. Because we are the ones who are violent. You don’t have a history of a woman beating her husband, but every day a man appears wanting to kill his wife, his girlfriend,” he said.
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Ambulances
President Lula also delivered seven ambulances to the state of Alagoas, for the renewal of the Samu fleet. Of the total vehicles, three will be destined for the municipality of Arapiraca, two for Maceió, one for União dos Palmares and one for Penedo.
Alagoas also received 17 Mobile Dental Units (UOM) from the Ministry of Health.
“When I thought about doing the Brasil Sorridente program, I imagined exactly that, that we would have a bunch of mobile ambulances, that could travel to the places in the city where the most needy people live, who cannot pay,” said Lula.
The vehicles will go to the following municipalities: Arapiraca; Battle; Campo Grande; Dry Coconut Tree; Estrela de Alagoas; Maribondo; Monteirópolis: Olho D’água do Casado; Olivença; Palmeira dos Índios; Piranhas; Santana do Ipanema; Santana do Mundaú; São José da Tapera; Senator Rui Palmeira; Teotônio Vilela and União dos Palmares.
