DW Bolsonaro criticizes Colombia’s new president and compares him to Lula 21/06/2022 07:27

Even without congratulating the leftist Gustavo Petro’s elected president of Colombia, President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) criticized the speech of the future Colombian leader this Monday (20) and took the opportunity to compare him with former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (PT).

In his victory speech, Petro advocated the release of young people detained during a wave of protests last year. Demonstrations broke out after a proposal for tax reform and began to demand better living conditions and a fairer distribution of income for the population. More than 60 people, including 59 civilians, lost their lives in the demonstrations. Violence by security forces against protesters has come under international criticism.

“How many people died today, how many people are in prison, how many young people in handcuffs, they were treated as thugs just because they had hope, just because they had love. I ask the country’s attorney general to release our youth,” Petro said. said. after his victory.

In a speech with his supporters, Bolsonaro generalized Petro’s speech, citing a statement by the former president spread by the Bolsonaristas, claiming that Lula would do the same if elected.

Bolsonaro said, “Did you see the speech of Colombia’s new president today? ‘Release all the children in prison, folks.’ Lula will release young children who kill someone for their cell phone to drink beer.” she said.

Lula’s statements

Bolsonaro referred to two of Lula’s speeches. In one of them, organized and distributed in Bolsonarist networks, the former president allegedly advocated “drinking beer” with cell phone thieves – this is not true.

In the other, Lula from 2018 said, “I can’t see the increase in the number of people sleeping on the street. I can’t see the increase in the number of young women selling their bodies for a plate of food. Theft and rape at the age of 14 and 15, being killed by the police, sometimes for being innocent or stealing a cell phone.”

without greeting

Bolsonaro is one of the few world leaders who has yet to congratulate Petro on his victory. When questioned by supporters about the election in Colombia, the president was confused and said that Petro was “a former guerrilla of MIR” – a group from Chile. However, Petro was part of M-19, a Colombian urban guerrilla organization.

By avoiding congratulating and merely criticizing the elected president, Bolsonaro follows the tactic he adopted after the election of left-wing candidates in Argentina, Alberto Fernández and Chile’s Gabriel Boric.