Former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso declared on Wednesday his express support for his historic rival, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is running for the second round of the country’s presidential elections.
“In this second round [segunda volta] I vote for a history of struggle for democracy and social inclusion. I vote for Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva”said Cardoso, 91, who presided over Brazil from 1995 to 2002.
Lula da Silva and the current Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, face each other in the second round of the elections on October 30, after no candidate obtained more than 50% of the valid votes last Sunday.
Fernando Henrique Cardoso, historic leader of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), which before the appearance of Bolsonaro was the great rival of Lula da Silva’s Workers’ Party (PT), had already hinted at his support for the former president in brief. before the first round, but he had not declared it openly.
On the occasion, without directly quoting the PT candidate, Fernando Henrique Cardoso asked voters to vote for candidates who were “committed to the fight against poverty and inequality, defending equal rights for all, regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation”, and feel proud. of the cultural diversity of the Brazilian nation”.
Fernando Henrique Cardoso did not vote in the first round of the presidential elections, opting to stay at home due to his advanced age.
For decades, the two former presidents were political rivals and symbols of the polarization between PT and PSDB.
However, the two leaders sealed their rapprochement in 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, in a meeting that was captured by a photograph in which both appear wearing a mask while shaking hands.
In the last three days, politicians and parties began to move their ‘chips’ before the second presidential round.
This Wednesday, Bolsonaro received the support of the re-elected governor of the Federal District, Ibanes Rocha, in the presidential race.
The Brazilian president also received support on Tuesday from the governors of Brazil’s three largest states, including Sao Paulo, the country’s main electoral college, while Lula da Silva joined Ciro Gomes’ Labor Party, fourth in the first lap.
Lula da Silva may also receive another important support in the coming hours, that of Senator Simone Tebet, who came in third place in last Sunday’s elections, with around 4% of the valid votes.
Source: TSF
