The first public appearance of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) after hip and eyelid surgery was via videoconference. This Friday (20), the PT member participated remotely in an event celebrating 20 years of Bolsa Família and used his speech to criticize the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
When offering solidarity to the children killed in the dispute, he stated that so much irrationality and insanity was not possible.
“I wanted to take advantage of this moment, on behalf of the children alive in our country thanks to social security programs, I wanted to show solidarity with the children who have already died in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and who are dying now in this insane fight between Hamas and the state of Israel. So much irrationality and insanity is not possible,” she said.
Lula called the Hamas attacks “madness and terrorism.” But she considered that Israel’s reaction was “insane” and that it also resulted in the deaths of children.
“I keep remembering that 1,500 have already died in the Gaza Strip. 1,500 children who did not ask Hamas to carry out the act of madness and terrorism it did by attacking Israel. But they also didn’t ask Israel to react in the insane way it did and kill them. Exactly those who have nothing to do with the war”, he lamented.
The president also said that people who wage war have to take into account the deaths of women, elderly people and children “who are not even given the right to live”. Lula once again reinforced Brazil’s position for peace.
“In the name of our children’s lives, we need to propose peace, the rationality that love can overcome hate. We don’t solve problems with rockets, but with affection and care,” she said.
Return to the Plateau
Since performing the surgeries on September 29, Lula has been working at the official residence of the Presidency of the Republic, the Palácio da Alvorada. Through this Friday’s live broadcast, the president said that he will return to work at Palácio do Planalto next week.
“Next week I’m going back to Palácio do Planalto. I’m already getting up on my own, I’m standing up”, he stated, standing up in a sign of “recovery”.
Lula even joked, saying that he is ready to play football. “Mano Menezes has already asked me to return to play for Corinthians, (Fernando) Diniz (coach of the Brazilian national team) is thinking about calling me to the national team. I’m ready for combat again. Next week, Wellington, we will meet at Palácio do Planalto,” he said.
20 years of Bolsa Família
Lula spoke at the ceremony that celebrated 20 years of Bolsa Família, the federal government’s main income transfer program that was created during the first PT government, in 2002.
Coordinated by the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), Bolsa Família seeks to integrate public policies, strengthening families’ access to basic rights such as health, education and social assistance.
The event was attended by the ministers of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, Wellington Dias; of the Environment, Marina Silva; of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira; and the president of Caixa, Rita Serrano.
Source: CNN Brasil

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