Lula promises real minimum wage increases during Recife rally

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed a large crowd in Recife, Pernambuco, to outline his administration's economic priorities and criticize political opponents. Lula pledged that his government would continue to ensure real increases to the minimum wage, tied to the country's wealth growth, rather than merely adjusting for inflation.

During his speech, the President highlighted various government achievements in the state, including the SAMU emergency service, the Farmácia Popular program, and infrastructure projects such as the BR-101 highway interventions and the Transnordestina Railway. He also noted the implementation of an oil refinery and incentives for the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.

Lula leveled accusations of corruption against supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, specifically citing a social security fraud scheme that allegedly stole R$ 3.5 billion from retirees. He claimed his administration recovered R$ 6 billion from the scheme and has already redistributed R$ 3.5 billion to those affected. He further criticized opponents for their perceived alignment with United States interests over Brazilian governance.