Global General

Lula bids farewell to politics as term ends

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-28 11:00

Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (R) chats with President-elect Dilma Rousseff as they attend a Christmas celebration with garbage collectors in Sao Paulo Dec 23, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday he enjoyed his time in office and will take a break from politics after leaving.

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"Everyone said it was very difficult to rule Brazil. I did not find it complicated, it was pleasant to me," he said.

In the last edition of his weekly radio show, Lula bid farewell to the Brazilian people and thanked them for the support he received during his two terms. President Lula is leaving office with a record-high 87 percent approval rating.

"From the bottom of my heart, I thank the Brazilian people, each man, woman and child, in the past eight years, for helping me make Brazil what we have now. I am very grateful," he said.

Lula also asked Brazilians to support his successor, President-elect Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff will take office on Saturday as Brazil's first female president.

"I want to ask the Brazilian people to support the president-elect, because Brazil will need a lot of positive energy," Lula said.

"She (Rousseff) is dedicated to security, health and the fight against poverty. There will be four years of intense work, and Dilma will need all your support," he said.

Lula reaffirmed that he does not intend to interfere in Rousseff's government. He said Rousseff will be his candidate in 2014 if she decides to run for reelection.

"Dilma will be my candidate in 2014. The only reason she wouldn't be a candidate is if she doesn't want to run," he said.

Also on Monday, Lula said he will spend some time away from politics after leaving office in a meeting with journalists in Brasilia.

"I will spend some time without messing with politics or giving suggestions, trying to get back to normal as much as I can," he said.

Lula also commented on the recently announced raise of Brazil's minimum wage.

"The wage will go from 510 to 540 reais ($301 to $319), but some sectors request a higher raise to 580 reais (343 dollars)," he said.

Lula defended his government's economic policy and reaffirmed that Brazil recovered quickly from the international financial crisis.