Lula: Dilma will win even without democracy in the media.

Sarah Fernandes, from Rede Brasil Atual

São Bernardo do Campo – Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized yesterday (4) the “aggressiveness” of the media against President and candidate Dilma Rousseff (PT) and assessed that, even with the opposition of the traditional press, she is in a comfortable position and will win the elections, which take place today (5), in the first round, throughout the country.

Lula participated in a walk with PT (Workers' Party) activists in São Bernardo do Campo to close Alexandre Padilha's campaign for governor of São Paulo. "If you analyze..." pressure gauge (The website of the Laboratory for Media and Public Sphere Studies, which monitors media coverage of the 2014 elections, shows that if you look at the number of negative articles against Dilma this year and the number of news stories favoring other candidates, you'll get the impression that there is a total absence of democracy in the press," he said. "The ideological bias of the newspaper owner predominates, not the bias of the social responsibility of information."

In a conversation with journalists, Lula assessed that his party has suffered intensely from this process since 2005, with the Mensalão scandal. “I wish the press would report when the PT makes mistakes, but I think it should do the same with everyone. The media's aggressiveness against Dilma was much greater than it was against me from 2003 to 2010. In any case, she will win the elections,” he continued. “I wish things were like in other countries: in…” New York TimesFor example, they publish in their editorials which candidates they will support, but the information is neutral. The people need to know what happened, not what people want to happen.”

Lula said he was "very optimistic" about the elections and stated that as soon as they are over, the PT (Workers' Party) will begin a campaign for political reform. "I am convinced that without it we will not be able to carry out any more reforms in this country. The National Congress cannot continue to function with hundreds of political parties, which seem more like groups of people who have no ideological or programmatic commitment. The election result will be very dignified for the construction of democracy in the country," he said.

Regarding Alexandre Padilha's candidacy for governor of São Paulo, Lula said that he "still believes" he can make it to the second round and that the candidate should "walk around all day" seeking votes. "That's why we came to the streets today, to show the people that in elections and mining, we only know the result after we've done all the work. Only after the count," he said, in the last of a series of events held this week alongside the PT candidate throughout Greater São Paulo.

Yesterday, the two of them and Dilma were together in downtown São Paulo, on a walk. The former president also said he was calm about a runoff election, whether against candidate Marina Silva (PSB) or candidate Aécio Neves (PSDB), and that he has no preference for Dilma's opponents. “It will depend on the Brazilian people. If the people think they can give Dilma the victory in the first round, they will. If they think it's necessary to hear a little more debate and learn more about the proposals, with only two candidates the debates will be clearer,” he said. “The people are the ones who will decide, and we are working to win. We have to respect all the candidates. And Dilma will be prepared to face any of them,” he said.

“If there is a second round, it will be extraordinary because it will be another opportunity for debate. Do you remember in 2006, when I went to the second round with Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB) and some people thought he was going to overtake me? We gained 12 million votes and he lost 3 million, because things become clearer, it allows for a clearer ideological debate.”

Lula downplayed the fact that Dilma had not presented a government plan, a long-standing distinguishing feature of PT candidates. The president believes that being in office already represents the commitments she will have to voters should she win another term, a view that coincides with that of the former president. “Those in government have their legacy as their main program. Those in opposition go into the debate saying 'I think,' 'I believe,' 'I think.' Those in government have already done it.”