The President of Cape Verde, José Maria Pereira Neves, 62, said this Saturday (12/31/2022) in Brasília that he will start with the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT ) as President on Sunday (1 January 2023). “Finally Brazil is back. And when we get back, we will work together to strengthen ties,” Neves said in an interview with journalists at his hotel.
Neves will attend Lula’s inauguration ceremony. He is expected to speak with the Brazilian head of state on Monday (January 2), but the meeting has not yet been confirmed. “The inauguration of President Lula opens a path[para o fortalecimento das relações]”, he stated.
Neves graduated in Business Administration from the FGV (Fundação Getulio Vargas) in São Paulo. He was Prime Minister of Cape Verde from 2001 to 2016. In 2005, while in office, he met with Lula, then head of state in Brazil. Neves has been President of Cape Verde since November 2021.
Asked about the country’s relations with Brazil during Jair Bolsonaro’s government, Neves was evasive. “Even though I studied in Brazil, that doesn’t entitle me to further interfere in Brazil’s internal affairs. Brazilians have already given their assessment of the Bolsonaro government. I hope you made a good review,” he said.
cooperation maintained
The President of Cape Verde stated that military and educational cooperation programs between Brazil and Cape Verde were maintained during Bolsonaro’s government. He said there is potential for an increase in Lula because of the importance the PT placed in its governments (from 2003 to 2010) on relations with African countries and with Portuguesespeaking countries. Cape Verde is in both cases.
Neves also said he hoped Brazilians would have greater involvement on the global stage. “Brazil is a giant that needs to wake up,” he said. As an example of the country’s symbolic power, he cited the tradition of the Brazilian head of state speaking first at the opening of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. “Brazil is the first word. That’s strong.”
He mentioned Brazil’s potential to provide food and renewable energy to other countries.