No corporate campaign funding this year, Lula says
Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told activists in his Workers' Party (PT) that this will be the first election year his party will not use corporate donations to fund political campaigns. A ban on corporate campaign funding was passed by Congress last year, confirming a Supreme Court ruling. Lula spoke to party activists on Monday (20) in the prelaunch event for Federal Deputy Jandira Feghali's candidacy for mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
“This will be our first election without corporate donations. This means that after people clap their hands, they will have to stick them into their pockets to donate to the campaign. We are going to begin a new political experience in this country. I am convinced that this is a historic moment for us, we'll learn to focus on the groundwork again,” said Lula.
The former president recalled his first political campaign in 1982, when he stood on the top of a truck and sold party stickers and shirts to raise funds for the rallies. “I think this campaign will require better organization, more activism, more devotion, more energy. There will be less money around, but also more feijoada [fundraisers] and more moving around,” said Lula.
Auditors from the Regional Electoral Court monitored and recorded the entire event to watch out for early political campaigning. Under Brazilian election regulations, advertising political campaigns is only permitted as of 45 days ahead of polling day.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: No corporate campaign funding this year, Lula says
