BRASÍLIA: President-elect of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in tears Monday at a ceremony ratifying his election victory, cementing the veteran leftist’s return to a third term in office.
Speaking after receiving his “diploma” officially declaring him the winner of Brazil’s presidential election on October 30, the 77-year-old former metal worker was deeply moved by praising “the boldness of the Brazilian people to give this document to someone who has been attacked so many times for not having a university diploma.”
Lula, who will be inaugurated on January 1, defeated the far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the flow.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the former president (2003-2010), who left office as the most beloved leader in modern Brazil’s history, only to be jailed for more than 18 years. months because of controversial allegations stemming from a major state-focused corruption investigation. runs the oil company Petrobras.
Lula, who denies wrongdoing, was released in November 2019.
He was allowed to run in this year’s election when Supreme Court rescinded his sentence, finding favoritism on the lead judge in the case, Sergio Moro, who later became Bolsonaro’s justice minister.
Lula described Monday’s ceremony as a victory for democracy, after Bolsonaro baselessly attacked Brazil’s electoral system as fraudulent and encouraged what he called “legitimate protests”. law” against the outcome.
Thousands of Bolsonaro protesters blocked roads and rallied outside military bases after his death, calling for military intervention to keep him in power.
“This is a celebration of true democracy,” Lula said in his speech at the High Court of Elections (TSE).
“Rarely in our country’s recent history has democracy been so threatened, rarely has the will of the people been tested and so many obstacles to be overcome in order to be heard.”
The head of the TSE, Judge Alexandre de Moraes, praised the electoral body for “ensuring democratic stability and fending off criminal attacks on pillars of constitutional government.”
Lula won the bitterly divisive election by the narrowest margin in Brazil’s modern history, 50.9% to 49.1%.
Bolsonaro did not concede defeat explicitly. But he has allowed the transition to continue.
Speaking after receiving his “diploma” officially declaring him the winner of Brazil’s presidential election on October 30, the 77-year-old former metal worker was deeply moved by praising “the boldness of the Brazilian people to give this document to someone who has been attacked so many times for not having a university diploma.”
Lula, who will be inaugurated on January 1, defeated the far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the flow.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the former president (2003-2010), who left office as the most beloved leader in modern Brazil’s history, only to be jailed for more than 18 years. months because of controversial allegations stemming from a major state-focused corruption investigation. runs the oil company Petrobras.
Lula, who denies wrongdoing, was released in November 2019.
He was allowed to run in this year’s election when Supreme Court rescinded his sentence, finding favoritism on the lead judge in the case, Sergio Moro, who later became Bolsonaro’s justice minister.
Lula described Monday’s ceremony as a victory for democracy, after Bolsonaro baselessly attacked Brazil’s electoral system as fraudulent and encouraged what he called “legitimate protests”. law” against the outcome.
Thousands of Bolsonaro protesters blocked roads and rallied outside military bases after his death, calling for military intervention to keep him in power.
“This is a celebration of true democracy,” Lula said in his speech at the High Court of Elections (TSE).
“Rarely in our country’s recent history has democracy been so threatened, rarely has the will of the people been tested and so many obstacles to be overcome in order to be heard.”
The head of the TSE, Judge Alexandre de Moraes, praised the electoral body for “ensuring democratic stability and fending off criminal attacks on pillars of constitutional government.”
Lula won the bitterly divisive election by the narrowest margin in Brazil’s modern history, 50.9% to 49.1%.
Bolsonaro did not concede defeat explicitly. But he has allowed the transition to continue.
