'Lula Won't Return Only Because He Hasn't Left,' says President Rousseff

07/29/2013 - 08h41

The meeting with President Dilma Rousseff and Folha at the Presidential Palace, on Friday, started tense. "Dear, you have to turn off that air conditioning," she said to an aide.

With fever and pharyngitis, the president was treated with antibiotics, corticoid and Tylenol, and at the same time she had an "upset stomach" and a hoarse voice. Soon though, she relaxed. And spent almost three hours talking about the protests, inflation, GDP and the possibility of Lula becoming a presidential candidate. Read below the highlights of the interview:

Folha - The protests left journalists, sociologists and politicians perplexed. How about you, President Dilma?

Dilma Rousseff - In the speech I made when celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Workers Party (PT), in São Paulo [in May], I had said that nobody, nobody, when embracing its own rights, would wish to go back. Democracy creates this desire for more democracy. Social inclusion requires more inclusion. When we, in these ten years [of PT government] create the condition for millions of Brazilians to rise, they will demand more. We had a quantitative inclusion. This acceleration, however, did not occur in regards to the quality of public services. Now we also have to promptly respond to these issues.

But, President Rouseff, were you scared of the protests?

No. As things happened very quickly, I think everyone initially had a very strong emotional reaction to the violence [from the police], especially with the image of Folha 's journalist [Giuliana Vallone] struck in the eye [with a rubber bullet]. It was shocking. I have a neurosis with eyes. I already put up with several things in life. I do not know if could ever deal with blindness.

If you were not a president, would you have participated in the march?

At 65, I would not [laughs]. I went to many, up to my 30, 40 years. After that, you look at the world in another way. You know, demonstrations are very important, but each one of us can contribute in a way that fit best.

Your approval ratings dropped since

I do not comment on poll research. Neither when it drops or when it rises [she pulls her lower lid with a finger]. I pay attention. And I know well that everything that goes up eventually comes down, and vice versa.

Eduardo Knapp - 23.dez.2010/Folhapress

President Dilma Rousseff and Lula, in 2010. "We are inseparable", she said

But this has brought back the "Come Back, Lula" movement for 2014

Dear, look, I'll tell you one thing: Lula and I are inseparable. So this sort of thing, among us, does not stick. Now, to talk about "Lula's come back" and such... I think that Lula will not come back because he has not left. He did not go anywhere. He said the other day: "I'll die a politician. You all can do what you want. I will be an old man and still be in politics."

For the Presidency, will he ever return?
That, I do not know, darling. I do not know.

At least not in 2014

These issues, I do not discuss. Someone who is not a president should be discussing this. Now, I am the president. Am I going to discuss this? No, not me.

But Lula brought you to presidency
He can do that, why not?

The fact that some people use Lula to criticize you, does not it bother you?

Darling, it does not bother me one bit. I have a relationship with Lula that is on top of all these people. It is not up to them, do you understand? I'm one with Lula's government. We were together every single day, from June 21, 2005 [when she was in charge of the Civil Office] until when he left office. We have an instant understanding on a lot of things.

But he would have criticized your reactions to the protests

My dear, he was always criticizing me. This is not new [laughs]. And I criticized him. I mean, he was president. I did not criticize. I complained, lamented [laughs].

What is your opinion when an entrepreneur such as Emilio Odebrecht say he wants Lula back with Eduardo Campos as vice?

Well, good for him. We live in a democracy. If he said that, it is because he wants it.

Marlene Bergamo/Folhapress

President Dilma Rousseff during the interview

The PMDB has joined those who support the reduction of ministries

I'm not considering that. I don't believe it leads to a reduction in expenses. We have taken every measure to reduce expenses. All of them. And do you know what will happen? They will want to cut the ministries of Human Rights and Social and Political Equality for Women. These ministries are not as well equipped as the others. But they are crucial. The quota policy for example: we only made it because there were people constantly requesting it.

Do you know the name of all your 39 ministers?

All of them. And they are always after me. I find it amazing that you [journalists] believe that, in this world of so many media, orders are only given in person. Ministers are constantly sending me emails, calling, talking.

Minister Guido Mantega is at risk of losing his position?

Mantega is where he has always been: in the Finance Ministry. And you can kill me, but I'm not going to talk about the cabinet reform.

Do you think that critics of the government are exaggerating?

I proposed five pacts [after the protests]. And I have another one, you know? It is the pact with the truth. What they are doing with Brazil today is unacceptable. There is an extremely delicate international situation. The U.S. is recovering, but slowly. We can see that China is making adjustments. The FED (Federal Reserve) indicated that it would abandon monetary expansionism, which led to currency devaluation across the world. And Brazil is maintaining its stability in this scenario. We will meet the inflation goal for the tenth consecutive goal. Do you know how many years former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso didn't meet the goal? In three of his four years [when the goal was in effect].

Inflation rose for many months in one year

The U.S. crop production broke, which affected the market of food commodities. We had a serious draught in the Northeast and in the South.

But Brazil is growing slowly

The world is growing slowly. We aren't an island. And the wind isn't favoring us anymore. We are growing in the face of a windstorm.

Investment is slow and the government is held responsible for that. Businessmen are complaining that there's no dialogue with you

Me? Look at my schedule at any moment in my life. I participated in all the biddings during my and Lula's administrations. I understand that they want to talk to me as often as they used to. But I'm the president. I can't discuss the internal rate of return.

You allegedly have characteristics that don't help projects to take off. You are said to be centralizing, authoritarian

No, no I'm not. But I know that, like every woman, if I don't keep an eye on my priorities, there's a big chance they won't get off the ground. It's like with children, you help them to a certain point, after that you have to let them fly by themselves.

Are you too harsh?

Oh, my dear, I'm very demanding. What I demand from me, I demand from everyone.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA and THOMAS MUELLO

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