The president () thanked the prayers and messages of affection he received during the surgery he recently underwent on his head, in a speech on national television, this Monday (23).
He said that “thanks to this chain of solidarity” he is firmer and stronger “to continue making Brazil work.”
He also highlighted the respect and harmony between the executive, legislative and judicial branches and the “uncompromising” defense of democracy and that 2025 will be the year of “harvest”.
“We still have enormous challenges ahead, but Brazil today has a strong economy that continues to grow. An efficient government that invests where it matters most, in the quality of life of the Brazilian population.”
The president’s traditional end-of-year message used to take place on Christmas Eve, but was brought forward. The preparation of this year’s statement has already included the participation of publicist Sidônio Palmeira, who (Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency), replacing Paulo Pimenta.
Sidônio had already acted during the speech of the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT), when he announced the cost containment measures, in addition to increasing the Income Tax exemption range to up to R$5,000. The publicist also directed a recent video, in which Lula appears alongside and guarantees autonomy for the actions of the future president of the Central Bank, Gabriel Galípolo.
Laércio Portela, currently Secretary of Institutional Communication at Secom, also participated, as well as Ricardo Stuckert, Secretary of Audiovisual and Lula’s official photographer. Portela is tipped to become the next Press Secretary.
During his speech, the president also extolled that 2025 will be the year of the “harvest”, following the example of what he has been saying in his speeches during official events and also in interviews.
However, the same word had already been used during the
“[O ano de] 2023 was the time to plant and rebuild. We plow the land, sow the seeds, water it every day, take care of Brazil and the Brazilian people with all the affection. We have created all the conditions to have a generous harvest in 2024”, said the president at the time.
The final part of last year’s speech was also used to defend democracy and criticize the coup attempt on January 8, actions that marked politics throughout that entire year.
“Fortunately, the coup attempt had the opposite effect. It united all institutions, mobilized political parties above ideologies, provoked a prompt reaction from society. And at the end of that sad 8th of January, democracy emerged victorious and strengthened. We were able to restore the windows in record time, but peace and unity between friends and family still need to be restored,” he said.
Lula makes his final speech in 2024 while still under medical care and leaving his official residence, Palácio da Alvorada. The president was hospitalized in São Paulo between December 10th and 15th due to internal bleeding resulting from a fall in the bathroom in October.
The agent had one on the 10th due to a three-centimeter hematoma between the brain and one of the membranes (meninges) that surround the organ. The clot was detected after he felt severe headaches, when he was taken to the São Paulo hospital.
When he was discharged from hospital, he spoke about his hospitalization and said he was scared by the condition. He thanked God and cited previous situations in which his health was at risk, such as when he and his .
“I never think I’m going to die, but I’m afraid,” said the president at the time.
The president only returned to Brasília on Thursday (19), in a scenario of tension with the dollar on the rise and in Congress.
