The former president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sent a solidarity message to the virtual Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival, running this weekend across social media.
Known simply as “Lula”, he is the founding member of the Workers’ Party in Brazil and served as the country’s 35th president between 2003 – 2010.
He was the first left-wing President to serve for almost half a century and left office with very high popularity ratings due to his socialist policies that benefitted millions of Brazilian workers and saw the country’s economy boom.
In a video message to be screened online on Sunday afternoon, Lula will say:
“We know there is an ongoing attempt to destroy the trade union movement, across the world”..
“And in spite of labour reforms in 165 countries, workers are now losing many of the gains they fought so hard to secure.”
“Congratulations to the people of the UK, congratulations to the workers of the UK, and to the workers that stand strong to protect the rights of workers.”
Lula has been a vocal critic of the Bolsonaro’s government for refusing to get to grips with the coronavirus crisis, and has praised local authorities and mayors for stepping up where the federal government has failed. Brazil is the second worst affected country in the world due to the coronavirus with over 2 million infected cases and more than 74,000 deaths recorded. The current President Jair Bolsonaro has ignored pleas to encourage stay-at-home and lockdown restrictions, and has openly called the deadly coronavirus “a little flu”.
Nigel Costley, festival organiser and TUC South West Regional Secretary said:
“Putting the festival online has meant we can reach out to friends of the festival like never before. We’re so pleased that Lula has sent us his message of support.
“It just goes to show how far the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs has gone in touching the lives and stories of workers around the world.”
