Lula and Haddad's last act is on Rua Augusta, in the center of São Paulo. — Photo: Reproduction/TV Globo
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated this Saturday (3), during a campaign event in São Paulo, that his political group is facing a “gang leader” and organized crime.
In his speech, however, Lula did not mention political opponent Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) by name.
"We are going to the polls tomorrow [Sunday] with great peace of mind knowing what is at stake. On one side democracy and sovereignty, on the other side barbarism and corruption. On the other side we are working with a gang leader. We are working against organized crime. Therefore, we will need your strength", he stated.
The statement was made on the eve of the first round of elections, on the last day of the street campaign. The president asked supporters to seek votes until this Sunday's election (4).
"After this march, no one rests. We need to talk to people on the street, in the bar, in the church, in the shops so that we can convince everyone to go vote", he stated.
‘Social Security Gang’
At another point, Lula associated the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro with irregularities in Social Security and mentioned banker Daniel Vorcaro.
"This is the walk that arrested the Social Security gang created by Bolsonaro, which took the banker prisoner, [Daniel] Vorcaro. And they are very scared because every day something new appears", he declared.
The dispute over the INSS case became part of not only the presidential campaign but also Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign.
Lula's opponent used the case as a backdrop to associate the PT member and his son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, with the scandal. Lulinha's defense denied any connection with the irregularities.
Vorcaro, in turn, also appeared in the CPMI investigations. The rapporteur's report called for his indictment, as did the alternative report presented by government supporters.
The banker had already met with Lula at Palácio do Planalto, in December 2024.
In February of this year, the president confirmed that he received Vorcaro and stated that he had told the businessman that there would be “no political position for or against Banco Master”, but a technical investigation by the Central Bank.
The meeting was not on the president's official agenda.
‘On one side is democracy, on the other, barbarism’
In this Saturday's speech, Lula repeated the strategy of presenting the election as a dispute between two antagonistic political camps.
“On one side is democracy, those who defend human rights, education, science and technology, citizenship, and on the other side is barbarism,” he said.
The president also stated that, in a possible new term, he intends to promote an “educational and technological revolution” in the country.
When talking about the final stretch of the election, Lula appealed to older voters and cited his own age.
"We need to convince 70-year-old people that they need to vote for their children, their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren. No one can consider themselves incapable at 70. I'm 80 and I feel like a 15-year-old boy," he declared.
The president also said he hopes to win the election in the first round and called on supporters to occupy Avenida Paulista after the vote.
