Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva He returned to government for his third term, at the age of 77, announcing the repeal of his predecessor’s Arms and Ammunition Ordinance, Jair Bolsonaro, In an inaugural address he clearly outlined his differences with the previous administration. In his first message to the nation this Sunday, Lula addressed several issues that will set him apart from the far right, such as fighting hunger, social reconstruction, the importance of culture, protecting the Amazon, and promoting democracy, which he attributes to power.
“General Security will work to promote peace where it is needed most, in poor communities, vulnerable families, organized crime, militias, and violence wherever it comes from,” he stressed in one of the harshest attacks on Bolsonaro, who was not mentioned by name at any time. You don’t want or need weapons. Brazil needs security, books and education.”
The new boss Promote and defend democracy, also shows the distance from former President Bolsonaro who had a government characterized by authoritarian attitudes. Under the winds of restoring democracy, we said, “Dictatorship will never be repeated.” Today, after the daunting challenge we have overcome, we must say “Democracy is Forever,” cementing and championing it as the “big winner” in the October 2022 elections.
society’s political awareness
“If we are here today, it is thanks to the political awareness of Brazilian society and the Democratic Front that we have formed. Democracy was the biggest winner, outpacing the largest ever mobilization of public and private resources; The fiercest threats to freedom to vote,” he declared in a swipe at his predecessor and opponent at the polls, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who did not name him.
“Never before has the electorate been so constrained by economic power on an industrial scale. After all, the decision prevailed,” he added. It wasn’t the only reference to the former president from whom he said he had a “terrifying” legacy.
“The diagnosis we received from the transitional government is appalling. Empty health resources. They have dismantled education, culture, science and technology. They have destroyed environmental protection. They did not leave resources for school feeding, vaccination, and public security,” he recounted about the previous administration, which he described as “denial,” “obscurantism,” and blamed more than 700,000 deaths from Covid-19, the second highest number after Covid-19 in the United States.
Lula also emphasized that Brazil should be “at the forefront of the global economy” and have the conditions to become an environmental power by eliminating deforestation in the Amazon and zero emissions of gases that favor global warming. “Brazil does not need deforestation to maintain and expand its strategic agricultural frontier,” he added.
No going back
Despite his predecessor’s criticism, Lula also made it clear that he did not want revenge in a letter he also addressed to members of Congress. “We have no spirit of revenge against those who tried to subjugate the nation to them personal and ideological designs, He stressed almost at the end of his speech to an audience that included Dilma Rousseff. The former president was removed from office in 2016, and who returned to plenary session on Sunday as one of Lula’s chief guests.
The President of the Federal Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, leader of the ceremony, celebrated Lula’s return with “a sense of renewed confidence” alongside his vice-president, Geraldo Alcmene.
And he returned with Geraldo Alcmene, the former governor of Sao Paulo state, a former opponent in the 2006 presidential election and now his vice president, in a clear sign that the country’s interests take precedence over partisan issues. “A sign of the need to unite efforts for Brazil,” Pacheco said to applause.
Lula signed the mandate with a pen that he had received from a supporter three decades earlier during the 1989 elections in Piauí.
Lula arrived at Congress after being applauded by the crowd in front of the Plaza de los Tres Poderes, received by Pacheco and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Llera, in a solemn session where, after hearing the national anthem, the Constitutional Promise, he signed the mandate with a pen he had received from a supporter three decades earlier during the elections. 1989 in Piauí.
Lula said the decision was made in honor of the state of Piauí, one of the poorest regions in northern Brazil, where it is located got more votes in the second round, 76.86% of valid votes.
outside the protocols
The party had some novelties. Organized by the First Lady Sociologist Rosângela Lula da Silva, Known as Janja, the event ignored the traditional 21-gun salute, responding to requests from animal advocates, autism and environmental organizations.
Another new off protocol is bl, a dog that the sociologist collected in front of the Police Directorate in Curitiba, where Lula was imprisoned for 580 days between 2018 and 2019.
And without Bolsonaro present to hand her the presidential mantle, the first lady also devised protocol by appointing civil society representatives to deliver one of the most important symbols of the ceremony.
Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alcmene followed protocol, beginning the tour at the Cathedral of Brasília, where they left with their wives, Rosangela Lula and Maria Luisa Alcmene, in the Rolls-Royce convertible of the presidency, greeted with cheers for a ten-minute drive.
An unprecedented symbolic act
After the conference, Lola and Alcmene go to the Planalto Palace, where they ascend the ramp, one of the most important rituals of the ceremony. Without the presence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who traveled to the United States on Friday, and former Vice President Hamilton Mourao, Lula received the presidential sash of the representatives of the Brazilian people, which was unprecedented at the ceremony and very symbolic. The cast includes a black, physically disabled, LGBTQ boy, and Chief Rawney, one of the most important Aboriginal leaders in the country.
After the speech, Lula and Alcmene went to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Itamarati Palace, to receive greetings from foreign authorities and officials. Lula’s inauguration brought to Brazil nearly three times as many foreign delegations as the previous ceremony, in 2019. At least 53 foreign delegations It consists of heads of state, heads of government and ministers who are in the Brazilian capital.
The King of Spain, Felipe VI, the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, and the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, were among those present.
