In Brazil, a legal and political battle has erupted after a judge ordered former president and current presidential front-runner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, to be released from prison as he appeals a corruption conviction he says is politically motivated. Hours after the Sunday morning ruling, a second judge overruled the order. Lula remains in jail. His supporters gathered outside the prison Sunday during the legal battle. This is Gleisi Hoffmann, a lawmaker from Lula’s Workers’ Party.
Gleisi Hoffmann: “It can’t be, so much maneuvering for Lula to stay imprisoned. Why does Lula need to be in prison, when he has the right to be released? Why this maneuvering from the Brazilian court and the Federal Police in this slow-paced operation on Lula’s freedom, taking their time with administrative moves that are not legal? This is embarrassing for Brazil in the face of the world.”