Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as President of Brazil for a third term on Sunday before the Congress of the capital Brasilia invaded by a human tide of supporters dressed in red.
The 77-year-old icon of the Brazilian left was inducted at a ceremony in Congress where he was sworn in on the Constitution, 12 years after leaving power after two terms (2003-2010 ).
His return to the Planalto Palace marks an exceptional comeback for Lula, who experienced prison only four years ago after being accused of corruption.
A minute of silence was observed in Congress in tribute to Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who died of cancer on Thursday, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday, just before the enthronement of Lula and his vice president. from right, Geraldo Alckmin.
Tens of thousands of supporters wearing the colors of the Workers’ Party (PT) jubilantly greeted Lula as he drove to Congress in the traditional Rolls Royce convertible, with Mr Alckmin and their wives, despite related fears to safety.
The inauguration ceremonies, placed under tight security while far-right activists still do not recognize Lula’s victory, were snubbed by outgoing head of state Jair Bolsonaro, who left Brazil two days before the end of his term.
He will therefore not hand over the presidential sash to his successor as is the democratic tradition, which has not happened since 1985 and the end of the military regime.
Up to 300,000 people were expected for this day combining the pomp, with ceremonies regulated to the millimeter attended by 17 heads of state, and a popular festival with concerts.
“Historic Moment”
Under the blazing sun of this early southern summer, thousands of Brazilians had to wait in queues of hundreds of meters because of security checks, noted an AFP journalist.
“Olé, olé, olà, Lula, Lula”, and “A esplanada e nossa! “(the esplanade is ours) shouted a joyful crowd, in reference to the Esplanade of the ministries, in the heart of Brasilia, where Lula will deliver his first speech as president in the afternoon.
“It’s a historic moment and it would have been impossible for me not to be there,” Zenia Maria Soares Pinto, a retired teacher, told AFP. She traveled 30 hours by bus from her southern state of Santa Catarina to reach Brasilia and her “emotion is boundless”.
Sapuia Kalapo, a native of Mato Grosso (center-west), came with his family and “expects a lot” from the government of Lula, “for our rights, and the delimitation of our lands”, he says, because “the four years of the government (Bolsonaro) have been very bad” for the indigenous peoples.
Reclusive and almost silent since his October defeat, Bolsonaro, who loses his presidential immunity, left Brazil for Florida on Friday.
While his most radical followers want to prevent Lula’s accession to power and are still camped outside barracks in the country, demanding military intervention, security has been tightened.
All the police forces of the district of Brasilia, some 8,000 agents, are mobilized, as well as a thousand federal police officers.
The number of people who can attend Lula’s speech outside Planalto Palace has been limited to 30,000.
Patrols are taking place at Brasilia airport near which an explosive device was discovered a week ago in a tanker truck, placed by a Bolsonarist who wanted to “create chaos” in Brazil.
“Great popular festival”
After his induction into Congress, Lula was to head to the Planalto Presidential Palace, an architectural gem of Oscar Niemeyer, to receive the famous presidential sash, set with gold and diamonds.
The future First Lady, Rosangela da Silva, known as “Janja”, was the great organizer of the festive aspect of the day, with numerous concerts and an eclectic program, with the drag queen Pabllo Vittar or the living legend of samba Martinho from Vila.
As for Lula, who has only completed his government of 37 ministers in recent days, he will have to tackle a “Herculean task” on Monday, according to his vice-president: the transition team has drawn up a state of very dark places in Brazil after four years of bolsonarism.
“We really have a lot of expectations after these four difficult years, but the Bolsonaro government has left the country in a deplorable situation. It will be really very complicated for Lula, ”said a supporter, Manoel Carlos de Carvalho, 45, from Natal (north-east).