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🇧🇷 Brazil /Elections & Politics

Brazil's Lula laments interview focus on probes, not proposals

From Folha de S.Paulo · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Brazilian President Lula expressed frustration over his recent TV Globo interview, stating it focused too much on investigations rather than policy proposals.
  • Lula acknowledged journalists' role in questioning candidates but felt unable to adequately discuss his plans for Brazil's future.
  • The interview predominantly covered investigations into his government and allies, including probes into his son Fábio Luís, alleged INSS embezzlement, and a case targeting former Senate leader Jaques Wagner.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva voiced his disappointment following a recent interview with TV Globo, a series of questionings for presidential candidates. While acknowledging the professional role of journalists in probing candidates, Lula expressed sadness that the conversation did not delve deeper into policy proposals for Brazil's future.

What is sad about this is that you always prepare to try to discuss proposals for the future of Brazil. You always prepare to try to show what you do. I never prepared so much, memorizing everything we did so that we could show Brazil.

— LulaExpressing frustration over the interview's focus on investigations instead of policy.

"What is sad about this is that you always prepare to try to discuss proposals for the future of Brazil. You always prepare to try to show what you do. I never prepared so much, memorizing everything we did so that we could show Brazil," Lula stated. He indicated that the interview, which took place on Thursday evening, largely centered on investigations involving his administration and associates.

Specific probes mentioned included inquiries into his son Fábio Luís, known as Lulinha, alleged embezzlement at the INSS (National Institute of Social Security), and an operation targeting his former Senate leader, Jaques Wagner. Lula, however, maintained that he did not fault the journalists for their line of questioning, stating, "I never expect a journalist to ask questions to please me. They are there to ask questions professionally about what they want."

I never expect a journalist to ask questions to please me. They are there to ask questions professionally about what they want.

— LulaAcknowledging the journalists' role despite his dissatisfaction with the interview's focus.

During the interview, Lula also drew parallels between the ongoing investigations and those of Operation Car Wash, a major anti-corruption probe. He criticized the media's role during that period, asserting, "The press will one day apologize because the Brazilian press bought a lie, sold the lie, and never recognized it." Later on Friday, Lula participated in a campaign rally in Salvador, expressing confidence in securing a first-round victory in the upcoming October 4th election.

The press will one day apologize because the Brazilian press bought a lie, sold the lie, and never recognized it.

— LulaCriticizing the media's coverage of past investigations.
About this summary

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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