The first rally of the election campaign of former president and candidate of the Workers’ Party (PT) for the presidency of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, gathered more than 100,000 supporters this Thursday in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil.
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The act, carried out in the Plaza de la Estación, marks the beginning of Lula’s official campaign. Minas Gerais is the second largest electoral college in the country with more than 16 million voters.
During his speech, the former Brazilian President stressed that if elected, the resumption of social policies aimed at improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable population would be one of his government’s priorities.
In that sense, he expressed that “this is no ordinary election. It is the dispute between democracy and fascism. We are discussing here whether our children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to work.”
He also pointed out that during his tenure as President from 2003 to 2011, “this country was the sixth-greatest power in the world. That’s why I will come back,” he said, stressing that “this country will promote love and solidarity.”
Accordingly, the Left candidate added: “We have already managed to place the maid’s daughter as a doctor. We have already managed to place the son of a mason as an engineer. We have already managed to place a gravedigger’s son as a diplomat.”
This is the first public election in which a vote can be asked for. Leaf is the star of the campaign in Minas Gerais, so people don’t vote on October 2nd @alexandrekali governor or @asilveiramg Senator e eu eo @geraldoalckmin President and Vice President of the Republic.
— Lula 13 (@LulaOficial)
August 18, 2022
According to Sílvio Netto, member of the National Directorate of the Rural Landless Movement (MST), “Lula’s campaign is changing the daily lives of Brazilians and Minas Gerais. We want to overcome neoliberalism and neofascism (…) We have a historic chance to get through this.”
According to the latest Datafolha poll, the PT leader has 51 percent of voting intentions against current President Jair Bolsonaro, who has 35 percent of voters in favor.