Lula apologizes for controversial statement about drug traffickers

After President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said that drug traffickers are ‘victims of users’ during a press conference in Jakarta, he declared on social media that he made a ‘poorly worded statement’ on Thursday. ‘I want to say that my position on drugs is always based on combating trafficking and consumption, as well as providing help to addicts,’ Lula wrote. He added that his intention was not to defend criminals but to address the root causes of drug trafficking. The controversial statement sparked criticism and backlash from different sectors of society.