Former Brazilian president chides ruling party for losing ideals

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday rebuked the ruling left-leaning Workers' Party for losing sight of its ideals.

At a seminar in Sao Paulo, Lula lamented that the party he founded in 1980 were growing more interested in gripping power than pursuing the ideals of improving the lives of the working class.

"We have lost a little of utopia. We only think about getting positions, getting elected," he said.

He also called for the renovation of the party's rank and file to incorporate "brave" young people with reform spirits.

"How can we talk about renewal when there isn't a single young person here?" Lula asked. "Those who want to change things must enter politics."

Lula became president in 2002 and was succeeded by his protege Dilma Rousseff after two consecutive terms in office. He is considered the party's strongest candidate for the next presidential elections in 2018. Enditem