Noblat warns: in 2013, "things are going to get rough"
One of the country's leading political columnists, Ricardo Noblat, from Globo, says that Lula fears being prosecuted for what Marcos Valério has been saying, but he also knows that a potential lawsuit is his best chance to return in 2014 with the slogan "the people will judge me."
247 - Apparently, there is an unspoken desire in the mainstream media for Lula to return to the political stage as early as the 2014 presidential race. In an article published today in Globo, Ricardo Noblat states that Marcos Valério's accusations against the former president could be the pretext for him to bring forward his return, to be judged by the people. Read his article from Monday below:
Things are going to get rough - RICARDO NOBLAT
This advice is worth at least for the first few months of the new year: pay attention when Gilberto Carvalho, Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, says something.
Lula used Gilberto's mouthpiece when he found himself cornered by the Mensalão trial, the discovery of the criminal organization that included Rosemary Noronha, his former secretary, and Marcos Valério's plea bargain in search of a reward.
Gilberto was placed in President Dilma's anteroom to act as Lula's main lookout, also providing all sorts of services to the demanding boss.
One of them: speaking when Lula is unable to or deems it inconvenient. Transmitting his public directives both within and outside the PT. Gilberto has devoted himself to this with particular dedication in recent turbulent weeks.
In brief interviews, including at least one lengthy interview given to the newspaper Correio Braziliense, and in a video released on the PT's website, he said what Lula had whispered to him.
Lula believes the Workers' Party (PT) is obligated to show solidarity with the convicted members of the Mensalão scandal who fell fighting. More than that, it is obligated to defend them in the face of the evident "exaggerations" produced during the four months of the trial.
"Just because a colleague of yours made a mistake or was the victim of excesses doesn't mean you should abandon him," Lula teaches. Or rather: Gilberto. "On the other hand, there's no doubt that the PT needs to renew and rebuild itself from the point of view of ethics and public affairs, and do so not only by looking at its own mistakes, but also at the structural issues of politics that lead to this culture."
In the second half of 2005, Lula went on television and apologized to Brazilians. Once re-elected the following year, he again referred to the mensalão scandal as "a farce."
Anyone who wants to can wait lying down for the day Lula admits what the Supreme Federal Court emphatically concluded: it was the mensalão scandal. And with public money. It wasn't undeclared campaign contributions, which would also constitute a crime.
"The PT's mistake was a mistake regarding undeclared campaign contributions," Gilberto insists. I say: Lula. "I don't recognize anything that was said in terms of monthly payments."
Understandable. Lula can't admit that he lied all these years. Besides, the prisons are overcrowded with innocent people convicted without reason... Taking in a few more won't make the slightest difference to them.
Lula's shrewdness is greater than Gilberto's. Lula would have been more careful when answering about the political reform, which could introduce public financing of campaigns.
Gilberto revealed his disbelief in the approval of the idea of public funding – nothing unusual so far. But he slipped up when he stated: "the other parties are no less corrupt than the PT." Whoa!
Lula wouldn't say that the PT is a corrupt party – what's that, my brother? Media coup? Get out of here!
Lula would say that the PT only used the same weapons employed by the other parties. He would leave no room for anyone to think that his comrades, martyrs of the mensalão scandal, could have pocketed any money.
If money was diverted, it was for the good of the Brazilian people. Who doubts that?
Finally, in 2013 "things are going to get rough," Lula warned through Gilberto.
According to him, the attacks suffered by Lula have only one objective: "to destroy our PT, our government".
Lula fears being prosecuted for what Marcos Valério has been saying and calls on the PT to fight back.
At the same time, he knows that being prosecuted would be his best chance to return as a presidential candidate in 2014.
"The people will judge me."
How about?
(Go for it, João Santana, the marketing strategist behind nine out of ten winning candidates!).
Happy New Year!