President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defended, on Wednesday (19), that former President Jair Bolsonaro has the presumption of guaranteed innocence and the right to broad defense. This Tuesday (18), the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) denounced Bolsonaro and 33 more people to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) for the crimes of coup, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and criminal organization, in an attempt to prevent President Lula’s third term.
“The only thing I can say is that in this country, at the time I government Brazil, all people are entitled to presumption of innocence,” Lula told a press conference at the Planalto Palace, after meeting first -MINISTER OF PORTUGAL, LUÍS MONTENEGRO. The two countries signed 19 agreements During the official visit of the Portuguese Government.
Bolsonaro’s defense Denies the accusations and states that the former president “never compacted with any movement aimed at the deconstruction of the democratic rule of law or the institutions that pave him.” The prosecutor’s accusations are based on the Federal Police Inquiry (PF).
Lula stressed that the PGR complaint is only the prosecution of criminal proceedings. “If they prove that they have not tried to blow, and if they prove that they have not tried to kill the president, the vice-president and the president of the superior electoral court, they will be free and will be citizens who can move throughout Brazil. Now, if when the judge is judged, they come to the conclusion that they are guilty, they will have to pay for the mistake they made, ”said Lula.
“Therefore, it is just the indictment, the process now goes to the Supreme Court and they will have every right to defend themselves,” he added.
War in Ukraine
President Lula also commented on the war between Russia and Ukraine and the attempt of US President Donald Trump of negotiating the end of the conflict with the Russians only, leaving aside the Ukrainian and the European Union representatives. The Brazilian argued that “both sides should sit at the table” and said that “Brazil will not send troops, Brazil will only send peace mission.”
“Here we get tired of saying, there is no peace if you don’t call them both and put it on the table. There is no peace on one side. Well, the Brazil and China They made a protocol to try to find a form of peace. This protocol was discussed with many countries, but it seems to me that people did not give much importance. Now Trump wins the elections and starts talking to Putin. And now, some people’s concern is that Trump has to call Zelensky for the negotiation, because now Putin is negotiating. And I find it wrong too, ”said Lula.
“I think the role of Trump to negotiate without wanting to hear the European Union is bad, it’s very bad because the European Union has been involved in this war very hard. I think now, the European Union cannot be left out of negotiation, ”said the president, making Brazil available to contribute.
“I cannot have a privileged side, I have to criticize both sides that have come to war and have to favor all those who want peace. This position of Brazil is still intact, ”he said, remembering that Brazil condemned the violation of the territory Ukrainian by Russia.
The Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, also defended the negotiation for the end of conflict with the participation of the two parties involved, but recalled that the European Union participated from the first moment in the defense of Ukraine, “safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Ukrainians ”.
Brasília (DF), 02/19/2025 – Luís Montenegro in the Planalto Palace- MARCELO CAMARGO/AGENCY BRAZIL
In Montenegro’s opinion, the peace process must naturally and necessarily involve Ukraine and Europe and that this is the form to project peace for the coming years. “At some point the two parts will have to be at the same table. And Europe is undoubtedly a partner who will moderate this approach and defend the values that have been based on their intervention alongside the Ukrainian people,” he added.
“Portugal never had and has no doubt that, in this conflict, the perpetrator is Russia; In this conflict, the offended is Ukraine; This conflict, the offended is democracy, are the rights and freedoms of a people who are sovereign, sovereign in their political regime and is sovereign in their territory, ”he added during the press conference.
