FHC calls for a “pro-democracy” vote, does not mention Lula, but makes indirect criticisms of Bolsonaro

This Thursday (22), former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) made public a note in which he defends the "pro-democracy" vote for the 2022 elections. In recent days, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ( PT) tried to attract the support of the toucan to strengthen the useful vote thesis. FHC chose not to mention names in a public note, but left - between the lines - veiled criticisms of Bolsonaro and agreement with Lula's agenda.

Posted by

João Caminoto

September 22, 2022 15:56

A note from FHC doesn't even mention Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) nor Jair Bolsonaro (PL), but brings an indirect criticism to the current president, candidate for re-election, when he asks voters to choose whoever “defends equal rights for all regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation, is proud of the cultural diversity of the Brazilian nation, values the education and science and is committed to preserving our environmental heritage”.

These issues are painful for the PL candidate, known and criticized for public statements against vaccines, environmentalists, quotas and cultural sponsorship, among other democratic demands that the PT opponent's campaign has embraced.

Read FHC's public note in full:

“As is public knowledge, I am advanced in age and, although I do not have any serious health problems, I no longer have the energy to actively participate in the pre-election political debate. I ask voters to vote on October 2nd for anyone who is committed to combating poverty and inequality, defends equal rights for all regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation, is proud of the cultural diversity of the Brazilian nation, values education and science and is committed to preserving our environmental heritage, strengthening the institutions that ensure our freedoms and reestablishing Brazil’s historic role on the international stage.”
FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

Lula in the electoral race

Leader in voting intention polls, Lula has brought together politicians from different spectrums to combat Bolsonaro, who appears in second place in voting intentions. The argument: defeat the current head of the Executive in the first round of elections.

Latest polls for Presidency: Datafolha shows Lula with 52% and Bolsonaro, 48% in valid votes

Follow the most recent polls of voting intentions, registered with the TSE and published from 15/08.

This Monday (19), Lula gathered eight former presidential candidates around him in a photo, all making the “L” of his campaign.

Lula receives support from eight former presidential candidates (G1)

Lula reacts

During an event in São Paulo, this Thursday (22), Lula said he was unaware of the official note from former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, but when told questionAsked by journalists about the position of his former opponent, the candidate said he was grateful for “all the support that comes”.

“Any support that comes to us in this election is better for everyone. Thank you to the people who are showing support right now. I want more people to know what is happening in Brazil and I hope that more people decide because the Lula-Alckmin ticket is effectively the ticket that can recover this country”, declared the PT member.

PSDB did not endorse

The PSDB issued a note, following Fernando Henrique Cardoso's statements, reaffirming the party's official support for Simone Tebet (MDB) for the Planalto:

The PSDB has a candidate and will fight until the end to elect her: Simone Tebet, and our senator Mara Gabrilli. They represent the best path for Brazil. First round is to vote for the best. It is useful to vote for those we trust.
— PSDB 🇧🇷 (@PSDBoficial) September 22, 2022

This Wednesday (21), one of the authors of the impeachment request against former president Dilma Rousseff (PT), former Minister of Justice Miguel Reale Júnior announced support for Lula in the 1st round. (Estadão)

This was not the only figure linked to the PSDB who has already publicly defended the useful vote for Lula in the first round “so that the country does not experience shocks” and begins to live without “the threat of a coup”. See people close to FHC who reject the third way:

1. Former Minister of Human Rights and Justice Jose Gregori (UOL)
2. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Temer government and Justice in the FHC administration Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (Estadão)
3. The general director of the FHC Foundation, Sergio Fausto. The support reinforces Lula's strategy of boosting useful votes in the final stretch of the campaign.

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This post was last modified on December 31, 2022 15:57 pm

João Caminoto

Journalist with more than 30 years of experience, I held various positions - from reporter to international correspondent to editorial director - in several publications, such as Estadão, Broadcast, Época, BBC, Veja and Folha. I feel privileged to have embraced this profession. I am in love with my family and Corinthians.