Former Brazil president defends hosting World Cup

Sao Paulo, July 5 (IANS/EFE) Former Brazil president Luiz Lula da Silva says hosting the FIFA World Cup will affect the presidential elections in October.

Da Silva denounced what he called media "terrorism" against hosting the tournament, saying that Brazilians did not approve the protests against the mega-event, reports EFE.

Lula explained that Brazil is "proud of hosting the 2014 World Cup".

"I do not think the result of the World Cup may influence the electoral issue. I was elected in 2002 defeating the ruling party candidate right after Brazil had won the World Cup and got re-elected in 2006 after the Selecao's elimination in Germany," said da Silva, who held the office from 2003-11.

Silva added that current president Dilma Roussef retrieved four percent of the voters' confidence in the upcoming presidential elections after positive reviews of Brazil hosting of the World Cup.

"The Brazilian World Cup is the third in the history of football in terms of attendance as all stadiums are full and there is good football being played. Without the media terrorism, we would have received more tourists. They spoke of chaos at airports and everywhere but the real chaos was the early exit of teams like Spain, England, and Italy."

--IANS/EFE

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