Lula accepts that there was corruption in Petrobras in debate with Bolsonaro

Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva admitted this Sunday that there was corruption in Petrobras, but assured that everything was discovered due to the transparency of his Government, during the first debate held this Sunday in Brazilwith a view to the second round of the presidential elections.

Lula, who governed Brazil Between 2003 and 2010, he spent nearly 600 days in prison accused of corruption, sentences that the Justice annulled due to a procedural issue.

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“If there was corruption, the thief who stole was captured and finished. If he was arrested it is because there was an investigation. There was no secret. Everything was transparent.” emphasized the former trade unionist.

The issue was brought up by far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for re-election, during the third block of the television debate organized by the Band and other media outlets.

In the debate, which pitted the current president against the former trade unionist for the first time, Lula criticized the closure of companies that resulted from all the processes that took place due to the corruption of Petrobras, because “it ended millions of jobs.”

“I didn’t say there was no robbery,” Lula said.

“What I said is that to fight corruption it was not necessary to close the companies,” he added.

Lula pointed out that the transparency that existed in his government made it possible to advance the investigations that ended in the capture of those who participated in the irregularities.

He also indicated that the capitalization of Petrobras during his terms “was the largest” in the world and allowed the country “to be self-sufficient” in oil.

The situation became tense at one point with ironic looks and deep silences that ended in new questions about the honesty of his efforts.

The far-right leader said that during the progressive mandates the country lived in a “kleptocracy”, “in a country commanded by thieves”, while Lula recalled that Brazil he does not want to be governed by someone who bought “51 real estate with cash” who diverted money from his Cabinet officials.

Two weeks before the ballot, the latest electoral poll released on Friday by the Datafolha firm places Lula with 49% of the intention to vote compared to 44% for Bolsonaro, a result that practically reflects the vote of the two candidates in the first round.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.