Lula Returns to Brasilia to Seek Votes for Rousseff

07/06/2016 - 09h28

Annoyed by the delay in the articulation of a proposal for a referendum on new elections, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva travels to Brasilia on Wednesday (6) to meet senators with the message that the government will be "different" and will have him in charge in case Rousseff returns to Planalto Palace.

As Folha has learnt, Lula is convinced that the proposal for a referendum on new presidential elections, advocated by some senators allied with Rousseff, is not enough to reverse the impeachment.

To the former President, this thesis is possible only if there is public support of at least 27 of the 81 senators.

This is the number of votes Rousseff needs in the Senate to avoid her impeachment. In the first phase of the process, Dilma had the support of 22 senators.

Lula has confided to people close to him he knows that at the moment there are not 27 senators willing to publicly defend the idea of new presidential elections and, therefore, he will attempt to reverse the vote in favor of Rousseff with the promise that changes in the economic policy will be immediate if she returns to office.

Despite the argument, Workers' Party leaders and Lula himself recognize that there is no political force to reverse the senators' votes now and the return of Rousseff is "very unlikely" at the moment.

Translated by MARINA DELLA VALLE

Read the article in the original language

	Marlene Bergamo/Folhapress
	Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva