Havana, Cuba.- International solidarity is very important to achieve the release of Brazilian ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of the Workers’ Party (PT), Gleisi Hoffmann, said here today.

Speaking to Prensa Latina, Hoffmann considered the 24th Meeting of the Forum of Sao Paulo -which takes place in Havana until tomorrow- as a good scenario to demand the release of the PT’s founding member.

Lula leads the voting intentions in Brazil ahead of the presidential elections on October 7 and continues in the people’s hearts, said the lawyer after participating in the parliamentary exchange held as part of the Sao Paulo Forum, inaugurated the day before at Havana Convention Center.

According to Hoffmann, Lula’s support from jurists, intellectuals, artists and progressive movements of several countries strengthens the Brazilian claim so that the former president can stand as a candidate for the elections.

He also denounced the political persecution of Latin American progressive leaders, a harassment aiming at sowing discredit in the peoples.

Hoffmann cited as examples the media campaigns and persecutions against the ex presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (Argentina), Rafael Correa (Ecuador) and Lula.

Founded in Brazil in 1990, the Annual Meeting of the Forum of Sao Paulo discusses in its 24th edition in Havana strategies and actions that restrain the right’s attacks in the region.