Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

How can the world’s largest economic power say that it has no milk for children after President Biden announced $40 billion to buy arms meant for the war in Ukraine? (During his presidential campaign in 2022) ... Zelensky is as responsible as Putin for the war. Because in the war, there’s not just one person guilty... (in an interview with Time magazine May 2022) If I win the election we will make an effort for dialogue to establish peace again. We are not interested in any type of war (tweeted in August 2022)The only position that interests Brazil in terms of the question of Ukraine and Russia is peace. The time of war is the time of destruction. The world needs peace, addressing the issue of the climate, and ending hunger. (Tweeted in October 2022)

Quoted in Ben Norton, "Latin America refuses to send Ukraine weapons, despite Western pressure", Geo Political Economy Report (29 January 2023), 2016

[Q:] So Volodomyr Zelensky should have talked to Putin more, even with 100,000 Russian troops at his border?[A:] I don’t know the President of Ukraine. But his behavior is a bit weird. It seems like he’s part of the spectacle. He is on television morning, noon, and night. He is in the U.K. parliament, the German parliament, the French parliament, the Italian parliament, as if he were waging a political campaign. He should be at the negotiating table.[Q:] Can you really say that to Zelensky? He didn’t want a war, it came to him.[A:] He did want war. If he didn’t want war, he would have negotiated a little more. That’s it. I criticized Putin when I was in Mexico City [in March], saying that it was a mistake to invade. But I don’t think anyone is trying to help create peace. People are stimulating hate against Putin. That won’t solve things! We need to reach an agreement. But people are encouraging [the war]. You are encouraging this guy [Zelensky], and then he thinks he is the cherry on your cake. We should be having a serious conversation: "OK, you were a nice comedian. But let us not make war for you to show up on TV." And we should say to Putin: "You have a lot of weapons, but you don’t need to use them on Ukraine. Let’s talk!"

Interview by Ciara Nugent, "Lula Talks to TIME About Ukraine, Bolsonaro, and Brazil's Fragile Democracy", Time (4 May 2022), 2016

What we can’t have is this country being run governed by a bunch of lunatics. The country doesn’t deserve this and above all the people do not deserve this. Brazil is adrift — so far he doesn’t know what to do.

2016

The foundation is in place, and now we have to get to work.

"Profile: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva" BBC News (October 29, 2006), 2003

I am the son of an illiterate father and mother.

In: Speech published at villagemagazine.ie (August 2005), 2003

Brazil is in a solid position. In the past, if the United States sneezed, we caught pneumonia. Today, if the United States sneezes, we sneeze too.

"Interview transcript: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in: Financial Times (July 7, 2006), 2003

From an ethical point of view the price difference is grotesque and from a political point of view, it represents a lack of respect, as though a sick Brazilian is inferior.

"Brazil to break Aids drug patent", BBC News (May 4, 2007), 2003

Brazil has rediscovered itself, and this rediscovery is being expressed in its people's enthusiasm and their desire to mobilize to face the huge problems that lie ahead of us.

'Dialogue with the President of Brazil on Global Governance' at the 'Annual Meeting 2003' of the World Economic Forum (January 26, 2003)., 2003

If the US is the country that most contributes with greenhouse gases, in the world, it should assume more responsibility to reduce emissions.

"Brazil rejects Bush move on climate change talks" The Guardian (May 31, 2007)., 2003

I want to know if the people are in the shit and I want to take the people out of the shit in which they are." – during a speech in São Luís, the capital of the Brazilian state of Maranhão. After recognizing he cursed, he stated: "Of course I cursed. Tomorrow, commentators of the major newspapers will say that Lula cursed, but I'm aware that they curse more than I do everyday, and I'm aware of how the poor people of this country live.

"Quero tirar o povo da merda", diz Lula; watch, folha.uol.com, (10 December 2009), 2003

A long time ago I learned not to put the blame for backwardness in Brazil on the US. We have to blame ourselves. Our backwardness is caused by an elite which for a century didn't think about the majority and subordinated itself to foreign interests.

"Brazil rejects Bush move on climate change talks" The Guardian (May 31, 2007)., 2003

This is a crisis that was caused by people, white with blue eyes. And before the crisis they looked as if they knew everything about economics.

Andrew Grice, "Financial crisis 'caused by white men with blue eyes", The Independent (March 27, 2009), 2003

Look, my friend. I don't speak the language here, I've got no money, the food stinks, there's no rice, no beans. I'd rather be arrested in Brazil than stay in this dump of a country.

In 1975. Cited in Emir Sader and ‎Ken Silverstein, Without Fear of Being Happy (1991) p. 41, 1975