Brazil Leader Apologizes in Bribe Scandal
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva apologized in a nationwide address for a bribery and campaign finance scandal Friday, while a former lawmaker for the first time implicated him in corruption.
“The government and the Workers’ Party have to ask for forgiveness from the Brazilian people,” Lula said in a short, solemn speech at the presidential ranch.
He denied knowledge of any wrongdoing.
The scandal centers on accusations that the ruling Workers’ Party bribed lawmakers to back legislation and used money not reported to election officials for 2002 campaigns.
Lula, who is up for reelection next year, said he felt “betrayed by unacceptable actions.” He called for reform of political financing rules.
Several top officials resigned after being linked to the scandal. Lula, who won the presidency in 2002 with promises to clean up government, had not been directly accused of irregular campaign financing until Friday.
A former lawmaker said Lula allowed the use of undeclared funds by his party to win support for his election.
“He knew. The president knew what we were negotiating,” former Liberal Party President Valdemar Costa Neto told Epoca magazine in an interview.
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