Lula says he will talk to governors against impeachment in Brazil

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Saturday (Apr. 16) morning that he will talk to governors to win votes against the approval of President Rousseff's impeachment at the Chamber of Deputies. "I still have three governors to talk to," he said.

Lula addressed during the “Social Movements for Democracy” event in Brasília, which brought together social movements, including the Central Workers' Union, the Landless Rural Workers' Movement, the National Students' Union and the Union of Brazil's Workers.

The former president pointed out that ousting a president without legal basis is a coup against democracy. "If [Vice-President] Temer wants to run as a candidate, he should not stage a coup, he should stand for elections, and wait for 2018," he explained. Lula also requested protesters to rally in peace tomorrow and asked them not to respond to any kind of provocation.

On the other hand, about 40 protesters marched Saturday morning in front of the hotel where Lula is staying in Brasilia, against the political articulation function performed by the former president. He has received the visit of several politicians in the last few days at the hotel. Coming from various states, protesters are members of Avança Brasil (which would translate as "Advance Brazil") and Vem pra Rua ( which would translate as "Take to the Streets") movements.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta