Brazil’s President Lula speaks out on Daniel Alves’ case

Lula condemned the notion that money could override the severity of rape.
by
Desmond Efe-Khaese
2024-03-21 11:00:47

At the PT’s 44th anniversary on Wednesday, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the justice system’s leniency towards wealthy individuals, specifically mentioning footballer Daniel Alves. “You know, Daniel Alves can be released if he pays something. Back in the Northeast, they used to say ‘anyone who has 20 contos de réis doesn’t get arrested’. And we see that this maximum continues,” Lula stated.

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Recall that the Spanish court has conditionally agreed to release Alves, convicted of rape in Barcelona, if he posts a 1 million euros bail (about R$5.4 million).

Lula condemned the notion that money could override the severity of rape, emphasizing, “The money that Daniel Alves has, the money that someone can lend him, cannot buy the offense that a man does to a woman by committing rape.”

For his release, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, appear in court weekly, and stay at least 1 km away from the victim.

After his defense proposed a 50 thousand euros bail (approximately R$273 thousand) on Tuesday, Alves, attending remotely, assured he would not flee Spain during the trial.