Tarso Genro trusts Lula and criticizes the political situation in Brazil in the run-up to 2018.

In a recent interview, the former governor of Rio Grande do Sul and former Minister of Justice, Tarso Genro, spoke about the political situation in Brazil and the future of the 2018 presidential elections. Genro, a prominent member of the Workers' Party (PT), expressed his confidence that former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will maintain his lead in voting intentions, despite the accusations against him related to Operation Lava Jato. In contrast, Deputy Jair Bolsonaro, although he has gained popularity, would not pose a serious threat to Lula at the polls, according to Genro. The latest data from a Datafolha poll indicate that Lula has 30% of voting intentions compared to Bolsonaro's 15%. Genro argues that the polarization between these two candidates will mark a confrontation between a broad spectrum of center-left and a right wing that he considers to have fascist tendencies. He asserts that Brazilian society will not support Bolsonaro with a significant electoral base, which, in his opinion, limits the deputy's chances of winning in a potential second round of voting. In the context of the ongoing strike in Brazil, Genro reflected on its impact. Although some analysts believe that the strength of the movement will not be enough to stop the implementation of labor and pension reforms, he emphasizes that the mobilization is an indicator that the left and democratic sectors have the capacity to challenge the oligopolized media that promotes the neoliberal agenda. In his view, these reforms are being carried out in line with the interests of financial capital more than for the benefit of the population. On the other hand, Genro did not hesitate to defend Lula's innocence in light of the accusations that have arisen from the testimonies of Odebrecht executives. For him, the presented testimonies must be analyzed with caution, as they are issued in a "state of exception" and may contain both truths and falsehoods. He insists that they cannot be considered definitive evidence without the support of material proofs, which calls into question their credibility. When asked whether the testimonies could have a positive effect by bringing corruption in the country to light, Genro argued that any investigation into corrupt acts has its positive side. However, he criticized the use of these testimonies as a tool for political manipulation, pointing out that the Lava Jato process has destabilized Brazilian politics, turning many politicians into victims of a system that conflates the guilty with the innocent. Regarding the situation of the PT, Genro expressed his concern about the current state of the party but also his hope that it can recover. He assures that the PT will not be without a candidate in 2018, despite the legal and media siege it faces. He acknowledges that Lula is its most natural candidate but also highlights the need to open up to other options, such as alliances with other parties or the emergence of new leaders within the left. Concerning potential political reform, Tarso Genro is in favor of a "mini-reform" that would refresh the system and prepare it for the general elections. He advocates for the implementation of a closed list that allows voters to know in advance whom they are electing, unlike the current system, which, according to him, favors the election of unrepresentative figures. However, Genro recognizes that the reform should not be used to perpetuate the current worn-out leaders. The political structure must be flexible and allow for the entry of new names that represent a genuine change in Brazilian politics. In this sense, he mentions that the impact of Lava Jato could open the door to emerging leaderships that are not necessarily linked to the current scandals. Finally, Tarso Genro concluded his analysis by stating that he has no intentions of leaving the PT and that, for now, he does not plan to run for any office unless the need arises for a Constituent Assembly to address fundamental political reforms. The situation in Brazil remains tense, and the uncertainty surrounding the 2018 elections poses significant challenges for all political actors involved.