Lula Says He Will Continue His Fight for Brazil’s People

Brasilia: "Dear comrades, I cannot express what it means to be here with you," Lula said from a box surrounded by PT militants, whom he thanked for the support given during all this time, Granma newspaper publishes.

"I didn't think that today I could be here talking to men and women who shouted during 580 “good morning, Lula”, shouted “good night, Lula”, no matter if it was raining, no matter if it was 40 degrees, regardless of being zero degrees”, he told the militants.

"You are the sustenance of the democracy that I needed to resist evil”, he added, while ensuring that he will continue “fighting for the Brazilian people”.

Despite the festive tone, during his speech, the former president criticized the Minister of Justice, Sergio Moro, responsible for his conviction, and the Federal Police and the Public Ministry who, according to him, worked to criminalize the left and the PT. “They did not arrest a man, they wanted to kill an idea”, he said.

After presenting his daughter and grandson to the supporters, Lula later wanted to show his current partner, the sociologist Rosangela da Silva. “Kiss, kiss, kiss!”, they exclaimed. Heeding the crowd, the couple has kissed among the applause of those present.

"I have achieved the feat of getting a girlfriend and that she agrees to marry me, in spite of being in prison” he announced.

“Every day you were the food of democracy that I needed to resist. To resist the rotten side of the Brazilian state, the rotten side of justice, of the public ministry, of the federal police”, the popular leader said.

“They worked to criminalize the left, criminalize the PT, criminalize Lula”, he said.

“I do not know the name of everyone who worked here, I hope you will excuse me”, said the former president, also thanking his PT colleagues, lawyers and close family members.

On the importance of all the support he received while in jail, Lula said: “You don't know the meaning and importance that you have in my life, you have no idea what you mean to me. I strengthened myself further ... I want you to know that in addition to continuing to fight to improve the life of the people ... I want to tell you loud and clear, I want you to know ... that they tried to kill an idea, and the idea cannot be killed, the idea does not disappear. ”

To culminate his emotional words, Lula expressed to the popular crowd: “I have no way to thank you. I will be eternally grateful to the fight you represent. God bless you. Thank you very much for the Lula free that you shouted here for 580 days. ”