On Eve of His Trial, Ex-President Lula Decides to Attend Demonstration in Porto Alegre

01/23/2018 - 10h59

Against the advice of his attorneys, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has decided he will be in Porto Alegre on Tuesday (the 23rd) for the demonstration that will take place on the eve of his trial. He will then leave the city that same day.

On Wednesday (the 24th), the former president's appeal will be appraised by the 4th Regional Federal Court. In July of 2017, Lula was sentenced by judge Sergio Moro to 9 and a half years in prison for corruption and money laundering.

The defense denies all charges and claims that he only visited the property that he is accused of having been bribed with on one occasion.

If the appellate court finds the former president guilty, then according to the Ficha Limpa law (Clean Record law) he will become ineligible, though he may still be able to participate in this year's presidential election by resorting to injunctions.

In order to avoid the impression that he is confronting the Judiciary and inciting violence, Lula has requested that spokespersons pass along the message that his trip to Porto Alegre will represent an "affectionate gesture" of appreciation.

Requests put in by fellow party members swayed the former president to attend and admire the demonstration put together by militants who drove down to Rio Grande do Sul in 500 vans.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

The authorities of Rio Grande do Sul have promised to monitor the area with snipers and 150 security cameras.

The snipers, however, will not be armed – according to the Secretary of Public Security, their role will be to observe the area from strategic locations. Naval patrol will also be set up in the waters of the Guaíba river.

Workers' Party leaders once again spoke of "resistance" and "taking the fight to the streets". "They have stepped on a beehive", said PT president Gleisi Hoffmann on Monday (the 22nd), in Porto Alegre.

Slightly earlier, the PT leader in the Senate, Lindbergh Farias, had told students that if the Judiciary demonstrates that it is partial, then they will have to understand that the "institutional fight alone will not get us anywhere".

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Marlene Bergamo/Folhapress
	Protesters march in Porto Alegre in defence of democracy and the right of former president Lula da Silva to be a candidate in the next national elections