Pro- and anti-Lula protesters clash in São Paulo

Separated by wire fences and the military police, protesters both backing and opposing ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gathered outside the Criminal Court building in Barra Funda, west São Paulo, where Lula was due to make a statement early this morning (Feb. 17).

Supporters of the former head of state had planned to rally in his defense. Demonstrators opposing the government and the Workers' Party (PT) protested in the same area.

Lula and Marisa Letícia had been scheduled to testify on the ownership of the triplex apartment in the Solaris complex, in Guarujá. The Federal Public Prosecution Office suspects there has been an attempt to conceal the identity of the luxury flat owner, supposed to be Lula's, which could point towards money laundering.

The pronouncement was called off after a ruling was issued by the National Council of the Public Prosecution Office, which granted a claim filed by PT Federal Deputy Paulo Teixeira, according to which prosecutor Cássio Cesarino proved biased during an interview to a national magazine prior to hearing the testimonies.

The atmosphere outside the court building grew tense, with slurs hurled from both sides. Outnumbering their antagonists, demonstrators from the Unified Workers' Central (CUT) and social movements used a car equipped with loudspeakers to criticize probes targeting the former president and the involvement of the media. Members of the anti-government Revoltados Online group inflated a giant Lula dummy wearing a prison uniform. At least four people were arrested during the clashes.

Public school teacher Marina Madeira said she attended the rally because she believes the allegations are a strategy to tarnish the image of the one-time president and the PT. “The attack against Lula is part of the attack against the federal government. It's coup-mongering politics. And those standing up for Lula and all this persecution by the media are standing up for democracy. We've come here to speak up against the impeachment [of President Dilma Rousseff], against a coup, and against the advancement of the right wing in our country,” she said.

On the other side of the fence, actress Ivi Guedes argued that Lula is involved in a number of wrongdoings. “Lula owns the triplex, he's got everything. He lies and steals. There's Petrobras, and the mensalão case. The reason he's not here today is because he chickened out. He knows he'd be sent straight to jail from here.”

PT congresspeople also took part in the demonstration in the ex-president's defense early this morning at the Lula Institute. They had arranged to watch Lula's statement.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira