Lula on Gleisi: 'a source of pride for the PR'

By Paraná News - In an event attended by approximately 2.400 party members and leading figures – President Dilma Rousseff and former President Lula – the PT (Workers' Party) launched Gleisi Hoffmann's candidacy for Governor of Paraná in Curitiba. The state plenary session of the party, held at the Teatro Positivo, brought together the candidates of the coalition (PT/PDT/PCdoB/PTN/PRB).

The activists, not only from the PT but also from allied parties, applauded the leaders throughout the event and chanted slogans. President Dilma and former President Lula did not hold back in their criticism of the opposition and highlighted the changes that have occurred in the country over the past 12 years.

President Dilma Rousseff, the first to speak after greetings from the presidents of the PT, PCdoB, PTN, and PRB parties, and from the PT's Senate candidates, Ricardo Gomide (PCdoB) and Gleisi's running mate, Haroldo Ferreira (PDT), refuted Governor Beto Richa's accusations that Paraná had been discriminated against by the PT government. "Paraná has never been discriminated against by the federal government, as some say. The people's interest must be above partisan issues. In fact, no federal government has invested and done as much for Paraná as ours," she said, and recalled some of those investments.

In the PAC 1 and PAC 2 projects alone, more than R$ 47 billion came to the State. With the 'Minha Casa Minha Vida' program, Paraná received 165 new homes and has another 71 under contract; R$ 4,2 billion was invested in urban mobility projects in five cities: Curitiba, São José dos Pinhais, Foz do Iguaçu, and Londrina; R$ 1,2 billion was allocated for drainage to prevent further flooding of the municipalities, and 367 kits consisting of a motor grader, backhoe loader, and truck were provided to municipalities with up to 50 inhabitants, among other things.

Regarding Gleisi Hoffmann, Dilma thanked her for the work she did in the Civil House and challenged her to compare their demands and proposals. "They lie about us and we tell the truth about them: they produced recession, unemployment, and the dilapidation of public assets..." and emphasized: "Paraná will gain a lot from Gleisi Hoffmann's strength, firmness, and competence as governor."

Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, candidate for governor of the state, spoke immediately after President Dilma and highlighted her experience in the Civil House, emphasizing that she will put all her experience at the service of Paraná, defending change and an end to the chaos. "Paraná doesn't want the past, it doesn't want backwardness. Paraná is entrepreneurial, innovative, hardworking, and wants new times."

"We want to be more open, a Paraná that sees Brazil as a vast place of opportunities. A government that plunged Paraná into uncertainty and financial and administrative chaos is coming to an end."

Regarding the changes, she stated that they will be to promote the meeting of the Paraná government with its people, and of its people with true citizenship. "I know the responsibility that awaits us, I know the magnitude of the commitment we have undertaken, to make our Paraná a state of progress in all areas as never seen before in its history. For this, we already have the commitment of President Dilma to support and assist us. We will govern together from 2014 to 2018. I know that we also have the support of President Lula, of the mayors, like Mayor Gustavo Fruet, of the allied parties, of our deputies, and of each of the people present here, people who believe in work, people who make a difference and do things differently," she concluded amidst applause and shouts of "Gleisi for governor."

Former President Lula's speech received the loudest applause from the activists. Calmly, with a hoarse voice due to past health problems, he didn't hold back in criticizing those who predicted the PT government wouldn't succeed, just as he criticized the World Cup, which he described as the best the sporting world has ever seen, going even further: "we're going to win".

Regarding the candidacies, Lula said that "only those who have already done something can do more for the country. Those who have done nothing, cannot," stated Lula, who directed his speech especially to the youth. "The day young people stop wanting more, they will cease to deserve what they have. We must always want more." The former president highlighted, however, the importance of maintaining a point of reference: "Many today don't know, but ask your parents what Brazil was like in 2002."

Regarding criticism of the Workers' Party government concerning corruption, Lula compared the two administrations. "The difference between us and them is that in this country there was a carpet under which all the dirt was swept and not investigated. They shelved 459 criminal investigations into corruption."

He especially highlighted the creation of universities during the Workers' Party government. There were 18 new universities and 165 university extensions, in addition to the federal institutes and Pronatec. "What should hurt them [the opposition] a lot is that it's a lathe operator who will go down in history as the president who created the most universities in this country."

Regarding Gleisi Hoffmann, Lula was full of praise. "If this woman does for the state what she did in the Civil House, I have no doubt that Gleisi will be a source of pride for Paraná."