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Crowds cheer Brazil’s Silva after he’s grilled by police Crowds cheer Brazil’s Lula after he’s grilled by police
(about 3 hours later)
SãO PAULO — Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff joined hundreds of people gathered Saturday outside the residence of the man who handpicked her to succeed him, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, one day after police questioned him in an investigation into a sprawling corruption case involving state-run oil company Petrobras.SãO PAULO — Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff joined hundreds of people gathered Saturday outside the residence of the man who handpicked her to succeed him, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, one day after police questioned him in an investigation into a sprawling corruption case involving state-run oil company Petrobras.
“She is going to meet with Lula as a gesture of solidarity and support,” a media officer at the presidential palace said, referring to Silva by his nickname. The officer spoke on the condition of anonymity because she not authorized to speak on the matter. “She is going to meet with Lula as a gesture of solidarity and support,” a media officer at the presidential palace said, referring to him by his nickname. The officer spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on the matter.
Images aired by the Globo TV network showed Rousseff arriving at Silva’s home. Minutes later, images were broadcast of Silva and his wife, Marisa, waving to the crowd from a balcony. Images aired by the Globo TV network showed Rousseff arriving at Lula’s home. Minutes later, images were broadcast of Lula and his wife, Marisa, waving to the crowd from a balcony.
Outside Silva’s building in São Bernardo do Campo, an industrial suburb of São Paulo, supporters chanted, “If you mess with him, you mess with me.” They hung a banner that read “Lula, the most honest and honorable man of this country.” Outside Lula’s building in São Bernardo do Campo, an industrial suburb of São Paulo, supporters chanted, “If you mess with him, you mess with me.” They hung a banner that read “Lula, the most honest and honorable man of this country.”
Unlike Friday, when Silva supporters and critics clashed in front of the building, Saturday’s gathering was peaceful in the absence of Silva opponents. Unlike Friday, when Lula supporters and critics clashed in front of the building, Saturday’s gathering was peaceful in the absence of Lula opponents.
Some opponents did paint on a wall of his nonprofit foundation Instituto Lula: “Lula, thief. Enough of corruption . . . your hour has arrived.”Some opponents did paint on a wall of his nonprofit foundation Instituto Lula: “Lula, thief. Enough of corruption . . . your hour has arrived.”
Police have searched the foundation headquarters, as well as properties connected to his sons and other family members. One of Silva’s sons was brought in for questioning. Police have searched the foundation headquarters, as well as properties connected to his sons and other family members. One of Lula’s sons was brought in for questioning.
Officials said they were looking into 30 million Brazilian reals ($7.98 million) in payments for speeches and donations to the Instituto Lula by construction firms that were crucial players in the Petrobras corruption scheme.Officials said they were looking into 30 million Brazilian reals ($7.98 million) in payments for speeches and donations to the Instituto Lula by construction firms that were crucial players in the Petrobras corruption scheme.
Prosecutors in the so-called Car Wash corruption case say more than $2 billion was paid in bribes to obtain Petrobras contracts. Some of Brazil’s wealthiest people, including the heads of top construction companies, have been caught up in the probe, as have dozens of politicians. Prosecutors in the “Car Wash” corruption case say more than $2 billion was paid in bribes to obtain Petrobras contracts. Some of Brazil’s wealthiest people, including the heads of top construction companies, have been caught up in the probe, as have dozens of politicians.
Police raided Silva’s home Friday morning and took him to a federal police station at the city’s Congonhas Airport, where they questioned him for about four hours. Police raided Lula’s home Friday morning and took him to a federal police station at the city’s Congonhas Airport, where they questioned him for about four hours.
At a rally later in the day in São Paulo, an emotional Silva insisted he is innocent and blasted those accusing him. At a rally later in the day in São Paulo, an emotional Lula insisted he is innocent and blasted those accusing him.
“If they are a cent more honest than I, then I will leave politics,” he pledged, his eyes welling with tears.“If they are a cent more honest than I, then I will leave politics,” he pledged, his eyes welling with tears.
— Associated Press— Associated Press