Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he is 'surprised and sad' by Piñera's death

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvasaid he was “surprised and sad” this Tuesday, after being informed of the death of former Chilean president Sebastián Piñera, died in a helicopter accident.

“We live together, we work to strengthen the relationship between our countries and we always had a good dialogue, when we were both presidents and also when we were not.“Lula wrote on his social networks.

(Also: Sebastián Piñera died: first images of the rescue of his body from Lake Ranco).

The Brazilian progressive leader conveyed his “feelings” to Piñera's family and friends, and reiterated his sadness for “his death so abruptly.”Piñera, who died at the age of 74, was president of Chile between 2010 and 2014 and then in the period 2018-2022.

Lula met him in 2009, when he was in his second presidential term in Brazil and the Chilean conservative leader He visited him as a candidate for the elections that same year.

They coincided in power for a few months and, despite their ideological differences, established a close relationship, even within the framework of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), an organization promoted by Lula and of which Piñera was the first pro tempore president, between 2011 and 2013.

EFE