Lula and the candidates for governor and senator for the PT in Ceará received the massive support of the people of Fortaleza. | Photo: @ptbrasil

Brasilia, July 31 (RHC)-- The candidate for the presidency of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, held a massive campaign rally over the weekend in Fortaleza, in which the candidacies of Elmano de Freitas to the Government of the state of Ceará and of the former governor Camilo Santana to the Senate were made official.

During the convention of the Workers' Party (PT) in Fortalez, which was attended by representatives of popular movements, political parties, federal and state deputies, and people in general, said political formation made official a list with only representatives of its own party.

Referring to the work carried out by Camilo Santana, Lula said: "Thank you very much for the lesson of government that you have given to Brazil in these seven and a half years governing the state of Ceará.  You will be remembered forever and ever.  And Elmano does not need to copy anything from anyone.  Just follow your path which will be an extraordinary government here in the state of Ceará."

Regarding the upcoming elections, the former president said that "it is important that we are clear that these elections are not ordinary elections.  This election is not one man against another man, or one party against another party.  This election is democracy against fascism, it is democracy against authoritarianism."

To which he added that it is about "truth against lies, a party against the Government, love against hate, solidarity against discord.  The future of each one of us is at stake in these elections.  The future of our mothers, of our children, of our teenagers will be at stake."

For his part, Camilo Santana pointed out:  "I have dedicated all my energy in these seven years, facing so many difficulties, economic crisis, drought and the biggest of them, the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the lives of our brothers from Ceará and Brazil. In this pandemic, I helped open four hospitals, I even opened a private hospital, which had been closed for ten years here in Fortaleza, and there I built 150 ICU beds, which helped to save the lives of the people of Ceará."

Meanwhile, Elmano de Freitas, current candidate for governor of Ceará, established as possible priorities of his administration the investments in education, public safety, youth, culture, sports and health.

Meanwhile the president of the PT, Gleisi Hoffmann, argued about Camilo that "you are the greatest pride for us.  To have a governor with your evaluation, with your capacity, with the work you have done here.  You are not only a leadership of Ceará, you are a national reference and it makes us feel very proud to be in the ranks of the Workers' Party."