I Will Continue to Fight Until I Win, Lula Says Regarding His Candidacy

03/01/2018 - 10h52

With the courts about the decide whether he should be arrested in function of his condemnation in the triplex apartment case, former president Lula, during an interview with Mônica Bergamo, said that he is very confident and serene, knowing that he will be absolved.

He refuses, however, to enter into any discussion regarding potential alternative candidates for the PT (Workers' Party). "If I do this, I'm consummating the fact as done", he declared. "I will continue fighting until I win."

For the PT leader, he is being transformed into a victim unnecessarily by being threatened with being barred from the elections. "I want to know the following: so there I am, prohibited from being a candidate, in the streets campaigning anyway, what are they going to do?"

Lula is betting on a race once again dominated by the PT and PSDB parties in October. His advice to potential presidential candidate Ciro Gomes (PDT Party) is to not disparage Lula's (PT) party.

"Let's be clear: from the right, no one will be president without the support of the PSDB. From the left, no one will be president without the PT."

He says that he isn't afraid of anything and isn't going to leave the country. "Are they thinking that I'm the guy who was born to live for 120 years. They say such a guy has already been born, who knows, maybe it's me?"

He claimed, however, that the accusations against him have caused major difficulties for his family. "All of my children are unemployed. Nobody is able to find a job."

The PT leader also talked about accusations against Michel Temer (MDB Party) in the plea-bargain process with JBS Corporation and accused the Globo (media) Group, which revealed the details of the case, of attempting to stage a coup.

"The coup's basic pre-supposition was that Temer would fall, and that Rodrigo Maia [president of the lower house of Congress] would take over and that [Rodrigo] Janot would have a third term [as Prosecutor General]."

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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	Marlene Bergamo/Folhapress
	Former president Lula da Silva