Brazilian ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, convicted of corruption and jailed, was released from prison on Friday. The ex-president was cheered by supporters and announced that he wanted to continue the "fight" for the Brazilians. The release was made possible by a judgment of the Supreme Court.
Lula threw his fist into the air as he left Federal Police Headquarters in Curitiba, southern Brazil, where he was detained. The 74-year-old was immediately surrounded by supporters and journalists.
"I did not think I could be here today and talk to men and women who called 'Good morning, Good day, Good night' for 580 days, whether it was raining or 40 degrees hot," Lula said Look at his supporters who had demonstrated for him during his detention in Curitiba.
Supreme Court cleared the way
On Thursday, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Lula's release by lifting a ruling that would allow a convicted person to be imprisoned before he has exhausted all legal remedies, once his conviction has been confirmed at the first appeal. Lula's lawyers had requested his release immediately after the verdict.
The Brazilian judiciary ordered the release shortly thereafter. There was "no basis for the execution of the sentence", the judge justified the order.
Lula was convicted of corruption in 2017 after a sensational trial. Since April 2018, he has served his sentence, which was last reduced by the Supreme Court from about twelve years to eight years and ten months. Lula is accused of having received a luxury apartment in return for lucrative orders from the state-owned Petrobras to the construction company OAS. Lula rejects all allegations.
Lula is the founder of PT Labor Party and was president from 2003 to 2010. He always denied all allegations and denounced the procedures as politically motivated to prevent him from participating in the 2018 presidential election, which then won the far-right Jair Bolsonaro. He said during the election campaign that he wanted to see Lula "rot in prison".
The political split in Brazil could deepen, according to observers by Lula's release. The release could strengthen the Brazilian left and boost Bolsonaro, who came to power with an anti-PT sentiment.
