MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

African party backfires for Lula da Silva who anticipates return to Brazil

Lula da Silva next to Jacob Zuma

Brazilian president Lula da Silva confirmed Friday he will not be present at the South Africa World Cup final on Sunday because he has urgent work in the northeast of the country ravaged by floods that has left tens dead and thousands homeless.

“I have been out of the country for eight days and many serious problems must be addressed in Brazil” said Lula da Silva meeting the press after holding a private interview with South African president Jacob Zuma.

“We have terrible floods in the northeast and I must really be back in Brazil”, he insisted.

Lula da Silva who this week launched the official logo and song for the next World Cup to be played in Brazil in 2014, is scheduled to share breakfast with FIFA president Joseph Blatter before leaving for Brasilia.

The Brazilian press also speculates that President Lula da Silva lost interest in the final Cup match after Brazil was eliminated in the quarter finals by Holland that will be disputing with Spain this year’s main trophy.

Actually the Brazilian diplomacy had organized a triumphal entry for Lula da Silva this weekend at Soccer City.

The Brazilian president made a tour of several African countries these last few days, including a regional conference, with the purpose of asserting his country’s influence in Africa (together with a recent television service specifically directed to the continent) and was planning to receive Brazil’s sixth World Cup before the eyes of the world and sitting next to several African leaders.

This however was frustrated by Holland.

“I invited my brother (Lula da Silva) to see the final, but he told me he has urgent business in Brazil. I must say that in his shoes I would of have done the same”, said President Zuma.

Lula da Silva is also in the midst of a presidential campaign to have his hand picked candidate Dilma Roussef succeed him in the post.

However in his absence the ruling Workers Party, founded by Lula da Silva, openly questioned Ms Rousseff, her policies and anticipated that if elected, she would not have the freedom of action enjoyed by Lula da Silva during his eight years.
This tainted Ms Rousseff’s campaign with lack of authority and under control of the radicals.

Lula da Silva is the most popular Brazilian leader since Getulio Vargas in the fifties, with public opinion ratings in the range of 80%.

The ten days African tour has confirmed that President Lula da Silva’s authority and prestige are unquestionable, but not so those of Ms. Rousseff.