Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.05.06 09:37
“Now it’s time for us to stand up and applaud the President of Ukraine.” Mr. Lula (77), a former president of Brazil and aiming for the next president, insisted in this way. In a recent interview with the US current affairs weekly magazine Time.
Time is the latest issue published on the 4th (local time) and treated Mr. Lula as a cover person. Mr. Lula argued that “President Zelensky is repeatedly seen giving speeches to the whole world and receiving standing ovations, but Zelensky has the same responsibility as Russian President Vladimir Putin in this war.” He went on to say that he was “(Zelensky) from a comedian and became president, but now it’s time to have a serious dialogue (about the war).”
Mr. Lula also criticized the United States. “US President Joe Biden was able to avoid this war, but he didn’t,” he said. “It’s not a responsible leader to go to Moscow and not meet Putin (to prevent the war).” I pointed out.
Mr. Lula kept a certain distance from the United States during his tenure as president. It also maintained relations with Iran, which US President Bush has defined as an “axis of evil” with North Korea, and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has poor relations with the United States. His remarks this time can be interpreted as conscious of his own traditional supporters in this context.
The Brazilian presidential election is scheduled to take place in October this year. Mr. Lula is expected to be elected to the current President of Bolsonaro. In a recent poll, Mr. Lula ranked first with an approval rating of 40% or more, but the difference with Mr. Bolsonaro is about 5 percentage points. Time treated Mr. Lula as a cover person and gave it the title “Lula’s Second Act”.
Mr. Lula was a worker and served as President of Brazil in 2006-14. He handed over the presidency to his successor, female politician Rusef, but was charged with corruption and imprisoned, and went on the path of downfall. In March of last year, the Federal Supreme Court was released for invalidating the conviction, resuming his political activities and at the same time proclaiming a presidential election.
The current President of Bolsonaro is called “Brazil’s Trump”. He told a female colleague, “It was too ugly to rape,” and was criticized for failing to deal with the pandemic, saying, “Impeachment and murder charges should be charged.” More than 600,000 Brazilians have died in the new Corona. Still, about 20% of voters support Mr. Bolsonaro. It is compared with the fact that Mr. Lula’s immovable supporters are leftist progressives.
For this reason, Mr. Lula’s election strategy focuses on the centrist strategy. A typical middle-class capture card has appointed former Governor of São Paulo as vice presidential candidate. Former Governor Aukimin was Mr. Lula’s political enemy. He lost in competition with Mr. Lula in the 2006 presidential election. The fact that he was nominated as a vice presidential candidate is evidence that Mr. Lula attaches great importance to capturing the middle class.
“Brazil must regain peace, cultural education and scientific development,” Lula said, “I travel all over the country and hug all Brazilian citizens.”