The presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) did not participate in the interview scheduled for September 8, within the project "Proposals for the Amazon", with a pool of nine regional media outlets. The decision was communicated by the party’s press office, which claimed "incompatibility of schedule". According to the candidate's official schedule, available on the campaign website, Lula had only one official appointment this Thursday, at 5pm, in Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, in the so-called "All together for Rio" event.
The coordination of the interview project even suggested changing the time and reducing the time of the interview, to fit in with the agenda. Even so, the press office maintained its decision and the candidate didn't participate. The dates of all the interviews were established by lottery order and the advisors had been informed of the calendar since July.
With the aim to guide themes related to the region in the presidential race, such as environment, economy, health, education, telecommunications and infrastructure, the pioneer initiative, led by the Grupo Liberal, also counts with the participation of the communication groups Imirante, from Maranhão; A Crítica, from Amazonas; Diário da Amazônia, from Rondônia; Gazeta do Cerrado, from Tocantins; Gazeta Digital, from Mato Grosso; Roraima em Tempo, Gazeta do Acre and Diário do Amapá. Each vehicle can ask each candidate one question, and all interviews have Brazilian sign language interpreters.
Due to Lula's decision of not join the interview, the interviews will resume on September 9, with Soraya Thronicke, candidate for União Brasil. All interviews will begin at 12:30pm, with one hour's duration, and will be shown live on oliberal.com, Radio Liberal FM and social networks, and simultaneously by the eight Amazonian press vehicles participating in the project.
It is worth remembering that in the first half of 2022 O Liberal interviewed the pre-candidates and Lula was one of the participants. The full interview, held in January, can be seen here.
Proposals for the Amazon
The project started last Monday, September 5th, Amazon Day, with Felipe D'ávila, Novo's candidate, opening the series of interviews. The next day, it was the turn of Ciro Gomes (PDT).
After Soraya, the schedule defined by lottery foresees the participation of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), on September 12; Pablo Marçal, on September 13, and Simone Tebet, on September 14.
