IRIA News

After the final showdown between two bitter rivals of Brazilian politics, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emerged as the winner with 50.9% votes against the former and incumbent president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula managed to defeat his far-right opponent with a razor-thin margin and made a stunning comeback in mainstream politics. He could not run in the previous elections in 2018 because he was in jail. He was convicted of receiving bribes from a construction firm to grant them contracts for Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras.

Lula spent 580 days in jail before his conviction was annulled and he returned back to the world of politics. “They tried to bury me alive and here I am,” he said as he opened his victory speech after receiving initial results.

The 77-year-old former metal worker turned union leader found a humble beginning in politics after presiding over the Worker’s Union of Sao Bernardo do Campo and Diadema in 1978. Lula ran for public office for the first time in 1982 for a seat in the state government of Sao Paulo and lost.

It was not until 1986 that he won a seat in Brazilian Congress. After rising the ranks, he became the President of Brazil in 2003 and served as the country’s 35th president until 2010.

“I will govern for 215 million Brazilians, and not just for those who voted for me. There are not two Brazils. We are one country, one people, a great nation,” Lula said.

“It is in nobody’s interests to live in a country that is divided and in a constant state of war,” Lula addressed an applauding audience after receiving 99.7% vote results.

Opinion polls had been predicting a win for the left wing from the start. The downfall of the country’s former right-wing government gained momentum when more than  700,000 Brazilians died of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jair Bolsonaro has yet to concede his defeat.

World leaders congratulate Lula

Several world leaders rushed to congratulate Lula on his victory. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with Brazil to address significant global challenges such as food security, trade and climate change.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he hopes to maintain “close and trusting cooperation with Brazil, especially on questions of trade and climate protection.”

U.S. President Joe Biden noted that the results came “following free, fair, and credible elections”. He added he was looking forward to continuing co-operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his “heartfelt congratulations” to Lula adding that he expects “our joint efforts will ensure further development of constructive Russia-Brazil cooperation in all areas.”

I send my congratulations to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections. I look forward to working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years ahead.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 31, 2022

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted “I look forward to working together on the issues that matter to the UK and Brazil, from growing the global economy to protecting the planet’s natural resources and promoting democratic values”.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he looked forward to working with Lula “to strengthen the partnership between our countries, to deliver results for Canadians and Brazilians, and to advance shared priorities – like protecting the environment”.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the poll opened “a new page” in Brazil’s history. “Together, we will join forces to take up the many common challenges and renew the ties of friendship between our two countries,” he said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed Luiz Inacio Lula’s victory and tweeted: “Congratulations Lula on your victory.. Let’s work together for social justice, equality and against climate change.”

Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez said Lula’s win “opens a new era for the history of Latin America. A time of hope and future that begins today.” He said: “After so many injustices you lived through, the people of Brazil have elected you and democracy has triumphed.”

Brazil’s Lula da Silva also shared photos of his meeting with Argentina’s president who flew to Sao Paulo in a show of support for Lula after he won an unprecedented third presidential term.