By Alejandro Meléndez and Irene Galindo. Periodistas Unidos / Global Exchange / Peninsula 360 Press
São Paulo, Brazil. September 30, 2022.- In a grueling debate that lasted more than three hours on the Brazilian television network O Globo, former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, favorite for Sunday's presidential elections in Brazil, became the main target of attacks by his rivals on Thursday.
Lula was mainly attacked by President Jair Bolsonaro, who together with the folkloric candidate "Father Kelmon", as the priest Kelmon Luis da Silva, candidate of the Brazilian Workers Party (PTB), identified himself, questioned Lula about the alleged corruption in his government and of being against religion.
The PTB contender attended the debate dressed in religious attire and as a member of the Apostolic Orthodox Catholic Church of Peru, he is recognized in Brazil as an orange candidate, which are those candidates who have minimal electoral representation, but who are dedicated to attacking the leading candidate.
For his part, former President Lula closed the debate by saying that he is proud of the educational programs created during the Workers' Party governments, such as FIES, Prouni and Science Without Borders, "which sent 100,000 young people to study abroad".
Lula affirmed that he will return to the Presidency of the Republic because the people know of his capacity to govern.
"There are three or four different types of proposals here. There are those who have a proven life in this country and it has worked for them, people know what happened in that country. There are those who make promises, there are those who govern. The people can elect someone who knew how to solve the situation in Brazil", Lula da Silva emphasized.
"I always say that the problem is not to govern, it is to take care of the people, to generate employment, increase salaries, increase the wage bill, improve health, improve education, create universities," he declared and promised to break the 100-year pact of secrecy imposed by Bolsonaro to hide the crimes of the current administration.
The last television debate before the elections was also attended by candidates Ciro Gomes, of the Democratic Labor Party, Simone Tebet, of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, Soraya Thronicke, of the Union Brazil, and Luiz Felipe de Ávila of the New Party.
This article was produced with the support of the organization Global Exchange in collaboration with TV Windbreaker, Journalists United and Peninsula 360 Press.
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