August 31, 2022

16:08

Bruno Pacheco and Ívina Garcia – Amazon Agency

MANAUS – After a closed-door meeting with politicians and businessmen from Manaus Free Trade Zone (MFTZ), the presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) spoke to the public and gave an interview to the press on Wednesday morning, 31. When leaving the Japanese Honda factory in the Amazon capital, the presidential candidate decided to get off the car, greeted supporters and pledged to keep preserved the economic model of the Industrial Complex.

See also: Lula visits motorcycle factory and makes closed meeting with allies and defenders of the Manaus Free Trade Zone

“The Free Trade Zone will be preserved. It is a commitment that we have since I was a candidate in 1989. I, when I was president, renewed [the economic model’s tax benefits] for ten years. Dilma renewed it for 50 years and, then, the Free Trade Zone has stability for a long time”, declared former president Lula.

The candidate’s interview was not scheduled, as the PT candidate still has an extensive campaign agenda in the capital throughout the day. Lula, however, disregarded the script to talk to supporters who had been waiting all morning to see the former president. The public cheered and received the postulant with cries of “Vai dar PT” (It’s going to give PT).

See also: Free Trade Zone, indigenous communities and rally are in the planning for Lula’s visit to Manaus on 31 August

To journalists, the candidate also spoke of the importance of the economic model for the development of the state and for the generation of employment for the population. Former President Lula also said that the MFTz is an asset for the development of the Northern Region of the country and must continue to give opportunities to people.

“This is the third time I visit Honda and every time I come to Manaus I make a point to visit the Manaus Free Trade Zone, because it is not possible that someone wants to work to destroy the MFZ. The person who wants to make a decree or make a law to change the benefits, in fact are people who do not know the importance of the FTZ for the development of the state and for job creation”, he said.

Employments

Lula also talked about the proposals to take Brazil out of informality and also affirmed that this is a serious problem for the country. According to the candidate, one of the main priorities of his government, if elected, is to recover the country’s development and generate formal jobs with signed work cards.

“We have many people working in informality, doing freelance and people think that this is employment, but it is not. Employment means that people have a record card, the right to vacations, to remuneration, and to social security. First, we are going to resume construction works, for example, the ‘My House, My Life’, the ‘Light for All’, the PAC works, which were paralyzed, we are going to resume and the State will have to have the competence to put money in to encourage entrepreneurs to put money in. We already did this in 2003 and we will do it faster now”, he explained.

“Lamentably, the people are going hungry. Regrettably, in a country that is the third largest producer of food, there are 33 million people going hungry and the president, who is the biggest jackass, says that there are not so many people going hungry. But there’s nothing in his house, because he even hides his corporate card,” declared Lula, in an attack on President Bolsonaro (PL).

Lula’s visits Honda’s factory

Former President Lula arrived in Manaus on Tuesday, 30, but meets campaign agenda only from this Wednesday, 31. At Honda Company, the candidate attended a closed meeting with politicians, businessmen and supporters of the economic model of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (MFTZ).

With reinforced escort by the Federal Police (PF), Lula’s motorcade had several armored cars and two ambulances, in addition to the support of the Municipal Guard and the Military Police (PM).

Among the politicians present at the meeting were the lawmaker and president of the PT in Amazonas, Sinésio Campos, federal lawmaker Zé Ricardo (PT), the candidate for federal lawmaker Vanessa Grazziotin (PCB), the candidate for federal lawmaker Marcelo Ramos (PSD), Senator Omar Aziz (PSD) and Senator for Amapá Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede).

Contrary to speculation by PT supporters, the former governor of São Paulo and Lula’s vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), was not at the meeting at Honda’s plant, according to the presidential candidate’s press office.