MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Malcorra sides with Lula da Silva, “hard to believe” what he's going through

“It is hard to believe that a figure with such a record is involved in a criminal case of corruption” Hopefully, this will be settled soon”

Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra sided with former president Lula da Silva arguing that it is hard to believe that a leader with such a record is under a criminal investigation, and underlined that all the economic and political scenario of Brazil has a great impact in Argentina.

 “President Lula was not only a leader in Brazil but also an international leader and a reference figure. That he should be going through all these things is disheartening and a situation of much concern” said the minister who pointed out the news of the arrest and questioning of Lula by the Federal Police had taken her by surprise.

“It is hard to believe that a figure with such a record is involved in a criminal case of corruption” Hopefully, she added, this will be settled soon, because in the meantime it is a most negative image for Brazil and affects the honor of a person who played a role in the world and a leading one in the most important country of the region.

In the event the impeachment process against president Dilma Rousseff advances (it will be decided by Congress), Malcorra was most cautious, “we must not make public opinions on the internal affairs of Brazil, even when it is true that anything that happens in Brazil has a tremendous impact on Argentina, because they are our main trading partner”, and we have a strategic alliance.

As to the impact of the political situation on the current decision to advance as quick as possible with the trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union, Malcorra replied there would be no negative impact.

“Brazil has decided to advance, they have a proposal which we share to present to the EU, and simply because we must move forward, we need new business, trade and business opportunities” underlined Malcorra.

“President Macri and Dilma Rousseff have established an excellent working relation, and we are closely involved in all relative to the Mercosur EU agreement. In coming weeks, sooner than later we will be exchanging tariff reduction proposals with the EU, and immediately after we will be discussing the details, with good news before the year is over”