Lula criticizes the spread of hatred in politics

Presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) met this Monday (17), in São Paulo, with Catholic Christian religious during an afternoon campaign activity. In his speech, the PT member mentioned the division caused in the country by political differences and cited recent attacks suffered by priests during Mass.

“I had never seen Brazil taken by hatred, as a part of Brazilian society is today. I have read news of priests attacked during mass because they are talking about hunger, poverty and democracy. They are being attacked by people who always lived with us and we didn’t know that this person had so much hate inside them”, he said.

Lula criticized what he called the “angry direct” that has increased his influence in politics not just in Brazil but in many countries. “We’re seeing the right gaining ground in many places, an angry right. People who don’t know the word democracy, the word respect.”

The candidate stated that, if elected, he will resume holding sectorial conferences, with broad social participation, for the formulation of public policies. He highlighted that more than 70 national conferences were held during PT’s administration in the federal government.

“I have the experience that it only makes sense for me to be in this dispute, if we have an obligation for the people to decide the policies that the government will put into practice in this country,” he said.

In the morning, the former president took a walk in the neighborhood of São Mateus, in the east of São Paulo, with the participation of allies. During the campaign, Lula promised that commerce will return in his government. “We are going to take the attitude of restoring the purchasing power of the Brazilian people,” he said.

According to the former president, the minimum wage has not had a real increase for at least five years and he guaranteed that he will resume the policy of valuing the national floor. “The minimum wage is earned by 36 million [de pessoas], of which 22 million are retirees”, he said. “The minimum wage does not increase, harming people who receive pension and retirement and who have not received the readjust for five years”.