In a campaign event this Saturday (5) alongside Fernando Haddad (PT), President Lula (PT) criticized the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), called him "a guy from Rio de Janeiro" and said that the opponent did not do works for the state.
"It's such an abominable thing that a guy from Rio de Janeiro comes, an Army lieutenant, who didn't even know which school he was going to vote for, and the people of São Paulo prefer him to a comrade who graduated from USP, a comrade who was mayor of the city, was Minister of Finance, Minister of Education", said Lula in São José do Rio Preto (SP).
Afterwards, the PT member urged the public present to cite works done by his opponent: "I challenge you to remember any work that this man did in São Paulo. I doubt it, I doubt it. Don't you remember? There is no work from the past government and there is no work now."
In a speech lasting around 20 minutes, the president did not make direct references to Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), who is running for President, nor to the institutional crisis in the STF (Supreme Federal Court). He took advantage of the time to talk about his government's achievements and mobilize militancy around Haddad's candidacy for government.
Haddad adopted a harsher tone in his speech, taking aim at the Banco Master scandal and saying that the institution had business dealings with three former ministers of the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government.
"Three ministers, the president of the Central Bank, the candidate for governor of São Paulo and the candidate for President of the Republic, everyone put in the money, put their hands on Master's money, and don't we call it by the name it has? This is a mafia. Whoever set up the Master Bank in this country is a mafia to perpetuate itself in power", said Haddad.
Without mentioning Tarcísio de Freitas' name, Haddad said that the then candidate for governor of São Paulo in 2022 received campaign donations linked to the bank.
In a plea bargain proposal rejected by the Federal Police and the Federal Public Ministry, Vorcaro stated that he donated R$3 million to Tarcísio's campaign to maintain the Credcesta contract, Master's assigned credit card, with the Government of São Paulo.
According to the report, the bribe would have been coordinated with Gilberto Kassab, president of the PSD and candidate for vice president of former governor Ronaldo Caiado (PSD). Kassab was Tarcísio's government secretary. Donations were made in the name of Fabiano Zettel, the banker's brother-in-law.
Tarcísio said on Thursday (3) that he "never had any contact or relationship with Daniel Vorcaro and is not aware of the aforementioned fact." Kassab said that Vorcaro's version is "an absolutely fanciful account", which he "vehemently" refutes.
In a statement, the Government of São Paulo stated that it "categorically repudiates and denies any suggestion of irregularity or favoritism" involving the case. According to the São Paulo government, PKL Credcesta was accredited under the previous administration based on objective criteria, with no room for choice, and meeting the expected requirements.
This Saturday, when criticizing Flávio Bolsonaro's candidacy for President, Haddad cited the senator's purchase of properties and the acquisition of a mansion in Brasília, in addition to receiving money from Daniel Vorcaro, to finance the film "Dark Horse", about Jair Bolsonaro.
"If anyone knows anything more about Flávio, please let me know, because no one knows. This bastard wants to be a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic. He has no qualifications," he said.
Around 8,000 people participated in the rally with Lula and Haddad in São José do Rio Preto, according to an estimate from the Military Police. The intense heat affected the public and some people required medical attention.
About 500 meters from Dom José Marcondes square, where the PT protest took place, deputy Paulo Bilynskyj (PL) held a demonstration, with a smaller audience.
The president's agenda this Saturday began with a visit to the Hospital do Amor facilities, in Barretos, in an institutional government event.
In a speech, Lula praised the SUS (Unified Health System), recalled the Covid-19 pandemic and criticized former president Bolsonaro. The president said that the number of deaths in the pandemic could have been lower if the government had followed scientific guidelines.
"Saying that the vaccine makes a person gay, an alligator, is a crime," said the PT member, citing the risks caused by misinformation that leads parents to stop vaccinating their children.
