By Maria Angelica Troncoso |
Rio de Janeiro (EFE).- Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promised this Wednesday to end hunger and misery in Brazil’s favelas, during a visit to one of the most dangerous areas of Rio de Janeiro, in the midst of the campaign for the presidential election on October 30.
After more than ten years, the progressive leader has returned to the “Complexo do Alemao”, a depressed conglomeration of favelas north of Rio, where food is scarce, there is no shortage of shootings and there is no shortage of police operations that end in massacres. not.
“We must put an end to this story that the State only appears in the community with the Police”, assured Lula in front of a group of leaders of different communities who accompanied him in the Alemao.
“Before the police arrive, health, culture and education must arrive,” he added.
The former trade unionist, who won the first round with more than 49% of the vote, wants to increase support in Rio de Janeiro, a strategic region to reach the presidency and where Jair Bolsonaro, who is seeking re-election, is in the lead .
In the first round of electionswhich took place on October 2, the extreme right obtained 47% of the votes in Rio against 43.7% obtained by Lula.
With a little more than two weeks to the second round, the progressive leader knows that the votes in his favor will be the majority in the communities which shout “food on the plate” and a “decent life”, two of his main slogans.
“People will eat again three times a day, they will find a formal job,” said the former trade unionist in front of a crowd of supporters who accompanied him in the favela.
hand in hand with the people
In ‘Alemao’, considered one of the most dangerous favelas in Rio and where clashes between criminal gangs and the police are frequent, the former trade unionist He took part in an outdoor walk with the inhabitants of the favela and other communities who accompanied him.
Climbing onto the bed of a truck, and barely protected by the safety vest that peeked out from under his white shirt, Lula shook hands with several of his followers, hugged children and even danced to the beat of ‘funk’, the rhythm that was born in the 90s to reflect the life of young people in the poorest and most disadvantaged neighborhoods of Rio.
On this occasion, the red that identifies the Workers’ Party (PT), the formation led by Lula, was mixed with the white of “peace” that the president had begun to promote since the day before so that the new allies who joined the progressive front, mostly central formations, also feels represented in this second round.
“People will find formal employment, we will also encourage micro-entrepreneurs (…), we will guarantee education so that young people can go back to school”, assured the progressive leader.
The municipalities ask
During his visit to ‘Alemao’, the former trade unionist also met with the leaders of 11 important favelas in Rio to find out their needs.
These community leaders, who share Lula’s ideas and are ready to promote votes in his favor, have also demanded commitments from the former president if he returns to the presidency.
Break out of invisibility and improve yourself quality of life in the favelas through cultural programs, education and an effective health service, were the main demands.
Among the participants were representatives of “Rocinha”, which is home to almost 100,000 inhabitants and is considered the largest in Brazil, and “Cidade de Deus”, known worldwide for the violence shown in the Brazilian film of the same name.
Maré, a dangerous conglomerate that encompasses 16 favelas in northern Rio, was represented by Anielle Franco, the sister of Marielle Franco, the councilor and activist raised in that community who was shot dead in downtown Rio in March 2018 for defending minority rights.
Web editor: Juan David Mosos