In Minas Gerais, Lula says rivals lie and calls Zema 'banana peel eater'

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sharply criticized political opponents Romeu Zema and Jair Bolsonaro during an official visit to Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. Lula accused his rivals of spreading falsehoods and directly blamed Bolsonaro's past federal administration and the previous state government for Minas Gerais' substantial debt burden with the federal government.

"The one who governed Brazil [Jair Bolsonaro] didn't negotiate, didn't help [former governor Fernando] Pimentel. Many times Pimentel couldn't pay salaries because he had to pay the Union's debt," Lula stated. He specifically targeted Zema, referring to him with a derogatory phrase, "banana peel eater," accusing him of demagoguery after the state secured a judicial reprieve from debt payments under Pimentel.

Lula highlighted his administration's efforts to resolve the long-standing debt issue, which dates back to the 1990s. He announced a new agreement that will allow Minas Gerais to pay off a significant portion of its debt over 30 years, with payments adjusted only for inflation. This deal, he emphasized, was made possible because he is president, and he insisted that the amortized amount must be invested in the state's education system. Minas Gerais is projected to save approximately R$ 6 billion annually through this agreement.

During the visit, Lula also inspected progress on the duplication of the BR-116 highway and the construction of the São Raimundo bridge over the Rio Doce. These infrastructure projects are crucial for the region's logistics and road safety. The highway expansion, costing over R$ 80 million for the bridge complex alone, is part of a larger R$ 309 million investment aimed at improving production flow and safety in eastern Minas Gerais. The new bridge is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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Eu não era do partido do comedor de casca de banana, mas eu sou presidente do Brasil, e eu resolvi ajudar Minas Gerais.