Marina Silva Declares Her Support for Aécio Neves in the Runoff and Compares Him to Lula

10/13/2014 - 08h39

One week after indicating that she would support Aécio Neves (PSDB) in the second round of the presidential election, former senator Marina Silva (PSB) finally declared her support for Neves.

In her speech in São Paulo on Sunday (October 12), she compared Neves's possible victory to that of Lula in 2002.

She also compared the commitments Neves disclosed in Recife to the "Letter to the Brazilian People," in which Lula promised to, once elected, carry out changes in Brazil without deep changes in the economy.

"Neves reestablishes the virtuous path and correctly manifests a strong commitment, like Lula did in 2002, when he agreed to maintain the Plano Real economic plan, creating dialogue with the productive sectors," said the defeated PSB candidate to the presidency, alongside her vice presidential candidate, Beto Albuquerque.

As she read a text explaining her decision, with her husband, Fábio Lima, her daughter, Shalon and allies by her side, Silva said alternation in power will be good for the country and listed what she considers positive in the commitments undertaken by Neves.

"What must be reaffirmed is the path to social advance, but with competent management and economic stability," she said.

Neves's TV program recorded her speech, which was used in Sunday's (October 12) TV campaign.

CAMPAIGN

Silva said that how she will participate in the homestretch of Neves's campaign hasn't been discussed yet.

In June, when the alliance between the PSB and the PSDB for the São Paulo state government was confirmed, she said her political group, the Rede, wouldn't join the PSDB "in any hypothesis."

The former senator said her decision is "totally coherent" with the political renovation that she defends.

In the first round, Silva criticized the polarization between the PSDB and the PT and spoke of "new politics."

"What we are doing is, in fact, the inauguration of new politics. Everyone imagined that I would give support as it is usually done. But it was done based on a program."

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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	Zanone Fraissat/Folhapress
	"Neves reestablishes the virtuous path and correctly manifests a strong commitment, like Lula did in 2002," said Marina Silva