Lula regains the presidency of a divided country

At 77, Lula is narrowly elected president of Brazil. A comeback for the man who once led the country, before being imprisoned for a year and a half for corruption, then cleared by the courts. “Today we say to the international community that Brazil is back, Brazil is too big to be relegated to this role of pariah of the world”, proclaimed the new president in front of an exultant crowd, with tears in their eyes.

In the streets, these supporters are relieved. “I hope that Lula will succeed in helping a suffering population, it is a government that will look at the poor and help those who need it”, says one of them. With 50.9% of the vote, Lula wins against Jair Bolsonaro, outgoing president, who remained invisible all evening. He still hasn’t admitted his defeat. Some of his supporters dispute the results. “It’s a fraud, if we have to call in the army, they will have to intervene. Communism will not come to Brazil”, gets annoyed an activist. Lula will have to bring together a people, more than ever divided.