‘Lulapalooza’: Brazil parties as Lula da Silva sworn in for third term as president
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is back as president in Brazil, promising prosperity amid global economic pain
- Thousands of supporters flooded the capital for the inauguration, which was snubbed by Jair Bolsonaro
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office on Sunday for a third term as Brazil’s president, vowing to fight for the poor and the environment and “rebuild the country” after far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro’s divisive administration.
The 77-year-old veteran leftist, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, took the oath of office before Congress, capping a remarkable political comeback for the metalworker-turned-president less than five years after he was jailed on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges.
A sea of red-clad supporters braved the scorching heat to flood Brasilia for “Lulapalooza”, where the presidential inauguration had a rock-festival vibe.
People exuberantly cheered Lula as he was driven through the ultra-modern capital in a black convertible Rolls-Royce, accompanied by first lady Rosangela “Janja” da Silva and Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin.
Giving a blistering overview of the past four years under Bolsonaro – who snubbed the ceremony, in a break with tradition – Lula said his government would work to undo a legacy of economic decline, surging poverty and funding cuts in health, education and science.
“Upon these terrible ruins, I pledge to rebuild the country, together with the Brazilian people,” he said, vowing to fight for poor Brazilians, racial and gender equality, and zero deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, where destruction surged under Bolsonaro.
