Lula states that there are managers who “don’t know how to govern” and prefer to sell public assets and defends Petrobras
The president (PT) once again criticized privatizations and defended, this Thursday (June 25, 2026), a more strategic action by Petrobras. During an event to resume work on the fertilizer factory in Três Lagoas (MS), the PT member stated that there are presidents who act as “sellers of public things at a bargain price” and questioned the results of the sale of state assets.
“I wanted a genius to appear in front of the company and explain what the Brazilian people gained with the privatization of BR Distribuidora,” he said. The PT member also mentioned the sale of Liquigás and Eletrobras. “I would like someone to explain to me why Eletrobras was privatized, what was the gain for Brazil. Has the energy quality improved?”he questioned.
Lula criticized governments that tried to reduce Petrobras’ participation in the economy. “Every now and then a ruler appears in this country who wants to sell Petrobras. When they realize that they won’t be able to sell the state-owned company, they start selling pieces”these.
“The guy doesn’t know how to govern, he doesn’t have the skills, so he decides to sell. If he wants to be a salesman and not a ruler, he should look for another profession. Governing is for those who know how to govern”he stated.
The Chief Executive also said that there is no justification for a unit like this “magnitude” remained idle for more than a decade.
Lula stated that he hoped to see the factory completed by 2013. “In 2014, the companies that were responsible for carrying out the Lava Jato process should have been involved; they weakened and the works came to a standstill”these.
In 2014, those responsible for the fertilizer factory were Petrobras, Sinopec (Chinese state-owned energy company) and Galvão Engenharia. The Brazilian state-owned company terminated the contract due to lack of payment to suppliers and workers. Galvão Engenharia was the target of the Lava Jato operation and the group’s then president, Dario de Queiroz Galvão Filho, was arrested in 2015.
