Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the stainless icon of the left

At 76, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is the stainless icon of the left in Brazil. Born into extreme poverty, this farmer’s son began working as a metalworker at the age of 14, before climbing the union ranks and forging his political know-how. In 1989, Lula ran for president for the first time. He narrowly failed, as did the next two campaigns. The fourth attempt was finally the right one. In 2002, he became Brazil’s first working-class head of state.

Lula was re-elected four years later. During his two terms, he implemented ambitious social programs. Almost 30 million Brazilians have been lifted out of poverty. In 2011, when he gave way to his heiress Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilians adored her: 90% of the country was in favor of her. But Lula was overtaken by a gigantic corruption scandal. Nearly 150 personalities have been sentenced, and the former president was sentenced to twelve years in prison. He spent a year and a half behind bars and cried political conspiracy. In a surprise twist, the Supreme Court freed him. His horizon cleared, he put all his fighting spirit into the presidential campaign, in which he is opposed to Jair Bolsonaro.