President Lula Visits Infrastructure Projects and Campaigns in Minas Gerais

President Lula visited infrastructure works in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, on Friday to inspect the duplication of the BR-116 and the São Raimundo bridge. The projects involve investments totaling 309 million reais, with over 80 million reais dedicated to the bridge complex, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. During the visit, Lula discussed the negotiation of state debts with the federal government, noting that Minas Gerais will have up to 30 years to pay its debt through the Propag program. He stated that the agreement requires amortized funds to be invested in education and will save the state approximately 6 billion reais annually.

While visiting the works, Lula criticized former President Jair Bolsonaro and former Governor Romeu Zema. He referred to Zema as a banana eater with peel and accused his adversaries of lying. Lula attributed the state's record debt to the previous state and federal administrations. Following the visit to Governador Valadares, Lula traveled to Belo Horizonte to participate in a campaign event at Praça da Estação, marking the start of his electoral mobilization in the state. He also mentioned new requirements for truck driver rest areas in government contracts and the law regarding minimum freight payments.

Reporting on the event differed slightly in focus. A center leaning source emphasized the political conflict and the specific insults directed at Zema. A center left leaning source framed the event more broadly as a campaign effort, highlighting the president's focus on labor conditions for truck drivers and his overall electoral strategy in Minas Gerais.