Lula, in his first post-prison interview: They tore up the laws to arrest me.
"They had to disrespect the Constitution to arrest me," said former President Lula in an exclusive interview with the Cuban newspaper Granma; "What is becoming increasingly transparent to Brazilian society and to the world is that they want to remove me from the 2018 elections"; check it out.
However.Net - Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gave an exclusive interview to Granma, Cuba's leading newspaper. Theologian Frei Betto acted as an intermediary between the reporter and Lula, delivering the questions to the Federal Police headquarters in Curitiba, where the former president has been detained for over two months, and transcribing his answers.
The report highlights the laws and social programs of the Workers' Party governments that lifted more than 30 million Brazilians out of poverty, a result that supports Lula as the favorite to win the 2018 presidential election.
The interview, according to Cuban journalist Elson Concepción Pérez, who wrote the text, is "valuable material that adds value to Cuban readers and also to those around the world."
Granma – As the presidential candidate in Brazil with the highest popular support and who all polls indicate as the favorite, how would you classify this persecution and imprisonment to which you have been subjected?
Squid – It's a political process, a political imprisonment. The case against me doesn't point to a crime, nor is there any evidence. They had to disrespect the Constitution to arrest me. What is becoming increasingly transparent to Brazilian society and the world is that they want to remove me from the 2018 elections. The coup in 2016, with the removal of an elected president, indicates that they don't accept that people can vote for whomever they want to vote for.
For many leaders imprisoned simply for fighting for the people, prison has been a place for reflection and organizing ideas to continue the struggle. In your case, how are you coping with these first few days, since you can't get in touch with people?
I'm reading and thinking a lot; it's a time of great reflection on Brazil and especially on what has been happening lately. I am at peace with my conscience, and I doubt that all those who lied against me sleep with the tranquility with which I sleep. Of course, I would like to have freedom and be doing what I have done all my life: dialogue with people. But I am aware that the injustice being committed against me is also an injustice against the Brazilian people.
How important is it to know that in every Brazilian state there are thousands of compatriots in favor of his release?
The relationship I have built over decades with the Brazilian people, with the entities of social movements, is one of great trust, and it is something I appreciate because throughout my political career I have always insisted on never betraying that trust. And I would not betray that trust for any amount of money, for an apartment, for anything. It was like that before becoming president, during the presidency, and after it. So, for me, this solidarity is something that excites me and encourages me to remain firm.
How do we define the concept of democracy imposed by a patron of the oligarchy to dismiss left-wing leaders who do not hold power?
Latin America has experienced its strongest period of democracy and social achievements in recent decades. But recently, the region's elites have been trying to impose a model where the democratic process is only valid when they win, which, of course, is not democracy. It's an attempt at democracy without the people. When things don't go their way, they change the rules to benefit the vision of a small minority. This is very serious. And we are seeing this, not only in Latin America, but throughout the world: an increase in intolerance and political persecution. This has happened in Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and other countries.
What message do you send to all those in Brazil and around the world who stand in solidarity with you and demand your immediate release?
I appreciate all the solidarity. It is necessary to show solidarity with the Brazilian people. Unemployment is rising, more than a million families have returned to cooking with firewood because of the increase in the price of cooking gas, millions who escaped poverty are no longer eating, and even the middle class has lost jobs and income.
Brazil was on a trajectory of decades of democratic progress, political participation, and social advancements, which accelerated under the PT governments, which won four consecutive elections.
They didn't just attack the PT (Workers' Party). They didn't just imprison me to harm Lula. They did it against a model of national development and social inclusion. The coup was carried out to eliminate the rights of workers and retirees, rights that have been won over the last 60 years. And people are realizing this. And we will need a lot of organization to return to having a popular government, with sovereignty, social inclusion, and economic development in Brazil.