Speaking to Congress, Lula said he was taking over a devastated country where hunger had returned and human rights had been eroded under Bolsonaro’s leadership. He accused the right-wing populist government of having reduced resources for the education and health systems and for the preservation of the rainforest.
The Amazon region, with its huge biodiversity, is important in the fight once morest climate change. The rainforest binds immense amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2 and plays a major role in the global climate. Deforestation and fires had increased significantly during Bolsonaro’s tenure.
“We have no feelings of revenge”
Lula promised to strengthen small and medium-sized companies. The Amazon should no longer be deforested and greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to zero. Those who failed to uphold democracy should be held accountable, Lula said, without mentioning Bolsonaro.
“We have no feelings of revenge once morest those who have tried to impose their personal and ideological ideas on the country. But we will guarantee the rule of law,” Lula said.
After the swearing-in in Congress, Lula received the traditional sash of the head of state at the Palacio do Planalto, the president’s official residence – contrary to tradition, however, not from his far-right predecessor Bolsonaro, who had left Brazil for the United States before taking office.
Third Term
Lula had driven through the capital Brasilia with his wife Janja and the new Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and his wife in an open Rolls-Royce. Thousands of supporters cheered him on. More than a dozen heads of state attended the inauguration.
Lula ruled the largest country in Latin America from 2003 to 2010. He is now the first democratically elected president in Brazil to serve a third term. He prevailed once morest his predecessor Bolsonaro in the runoff election in October.
The inauguration took place under increased security precautions. The reason is threats from supporters of Bolsonaro. An incident occurred shortly before Lula was sworn in as President. Police arrested a man who attempted to gain access to the esplanade in Brasilia with an explosive device and a knife.
Right Congress Majority
Lula now faces great challenges. After his predecessor deeply divided society, the new president wants to reconcile Brazil and bring it back onto the international stage. However, he is dealing with a congress in which supporters of President Bolsonaro, who has been voted out, make up the largest fraction.
The gap between the two camps in society is wider than it has ever been since the country’s return to democracy in 1985. During the election campaign, both politicians made serious allegations of corruption, for example, which contributed to the polarization of Brazilian society. Lula was convicted of bribery in 2018 and spent a year and a half in prison. In 2021, the criminal convictions once morest him were lifted.
