MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Religious leader attacks Brazilian ruling party for becoming consultants of big business

Frei Betto, a former advisor of Lula da Silva and promoter of the Liberation Theology

Brazilian Dominican friar Frei Betto considered one of the promoters of the so called Liberation Theology attacked the ruling Brazilian Workers Party because instead of fostering links with social movements prefer to be cosy with big business and their leaders have become consultants of business people and bankers.

“I am disappointed that Workers party leaders have become consultants and advisors to the owners of money. Travelling through Brazil I can’t find them as consultants or advisors of the social and inclusion movements”, said Frei Betto in and interview with O Estado de Sao Paulo.

Frei Betto’s most probably was referring to one of the most powerful leaders of the Workers Party, Antonio Palocci (a former Jesuit) who was forced to step down as President Dilma Rouseff chief of staff, under suspicion of influence peddling for having advised private corporations while a lawmaker and head of Ms Rousseff’s electoral campaign in 2010.

His personal fortune soared by twenty in the last four years, a fact he did not deny arguing his consulting business was legal and legitimate under Brazilian law, ‘nothing improper’ but when asked about the list of his company clients, he refused alleging “confidentiality”.

Friar Frei Betto who has written extensively on Brazil’s social challenges has been closely linked to the Workers party and was a special advisor to then President Lula da Silva between 2003 and 2004.

Former president Lula da Silva, considered the most popular leader in recent Brazilian history has been called the “father of the poor” for his food and support programs for the at least 15 million Brazilians living in miserable conditions.

However his former allies from the social and religious movements such as the Dominican friar add that the former Brazilian president besides “father or the poor” rapidly became the “mother of the banks”.