Lula makes gestures to armed forces to depoliticize Independence Day

Brasilia, Sept 7 (EFE).- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led the Independence Day civic-military parade on Thursday, making gestures to try to depoliticize this commemorative date after the Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2022).

Lula led the parade held by the Armed Forces and several civil institutions on the Esplanade of the Ministries, Brasilia’s monumental avenue, where the headquarters of the three branches of government are located.

Numerous ministers and the Armed Forces commanders accompanied the progressive leader and his wife Rosângela “Janja” Lula da Silva, with whom he posed for a group photograph.

During the ceremony, Lula made no speeches. Instead, he made a statement on the national radio and television network on Wednesday, where he called for the country’s unity, stressing that this objective “can only be achieved without hatred.”

Independence Day this year “is not a day of hate or fear, but of unity. The day to remember that Brazil is one (…) a great nation, a unique and extraordinary people,” he said.

“In just eight months, we have returned Brazil to the path of democracy, sovereignty, and unity. Economic development with social inclusion,” he added.

In this way, without explicitly citing his predecessor, Lula alluded to Bolsonaro’s ultra-right-wing government, during which Independence Day celebrations were used for electoral purposes and to intensify attacks on the electoral system and the opposition in speeches.

On Thursday, the authorities did not register any incident despite threats of possible attacks by extreme right-wing groups on social networks.

The threats led the government to mobilize the National Force, an elite group of the Police, to reinforce security in the capital.

However, Minister of Defense, Flávio Dino, minimized the threats but simultaneously stressed that the government would not allow the repetition of the attacks against institutions such as those made by thousands of extreme right-wing radicals on January 8.

On that date, Bolsonaro’s followers simultaneously invaded the headquarters of the Supreme Court, the National Congress, and the Planalto Palace, the seat of the Executive power, causing extensive damage in an attempt to force a coup d’état against Lula. EFE

mp/ar