At the Elections, Dilma Needs to Talk On Improving the Economy, Lula Says

04/09/2014 - 09h55

Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in an interview to bloggers on Tuesday (8) that Brazil's economy "could be better" and that during her reelection campaign, President Dilma Rousseff will need to "clearly say how we will improve the Brazilian economy."

According to Lula, the PT government created jobs with better wages and inflation within the average. "Inflation at 5.9% is a lot, we wanted around 2% [per year], but we have to think when it was 80% a month. It was not per year, it was per month," he explained.

Research conducted by Datafolha shows that the fear of inflation is widespread and affects people of all levels of education, at all income levels and in all regions of Brazil. The wealthier and educated the voter, the greater the fear increase.

While acknowledging that the economic indicators in the country are short of what he and Dilma would like, Lula stressed the global economic crisis in which the United States, Europe and China had less growth have not yet recovered. According to the former President, countries now growing are in Africa and Latin America.

Ricardo Stuckert/Instituto Lula

Lula gives an interview to bloggers at the Lula Institute in Sao Paulo

"Brazil's economy is not growing 5% as we would like, but what are the countries growing faster than Brazil? Take for instance the G-20, you will find that China is always a bit suspicious because the country does not have an union demanding for salary increases and so many other obstacles as we have here. It is easier to make economy in China than in a democratic country," said the former president.

Lula also said that Ms. Rousseff is "competent and she has all political and technical conditions" for Brazil to move ahead. "Dilma is the best person to win this election and make Brazil walk. I already did my job, I feel accomplished now," he said.

The voting intentions towards Dilma dropped six points since the end of February, according to Datafolha research. However, the PT politician is still at a good place and could win at the first round, 38% against 16% of the PSDB politician Aecio Neves (PSDB) and 10% of Eduardo Campos (PSB).

Datafolha interviewed 2,637 people in 162 municipalities. The margin of error is two points. This research is registered with the Electoral Justice BR 00064/2014 code.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA

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