Brazil’s new president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged Sunday after his induction into Congress “to rebuild the country” and reconcile very divided Brazilians, citing the “disastrous” record of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.
“I will govern for 215 million Brazilians, and not just those who voted for me”, launched in front of a human tide a Lula visibly tested, at 77, by a long day of ceremonies and the summer heat of Brasília.
Overwhelmed by emotion and interrupted by sobs, the historic leader of the left pledged to fight against hunger, “the most serious of crimes” and to “combat all forms of inequality”. “No one will be a second-class citizen anymore,” he promised.
“It’s like a rebirth,” Lurdiana Araújo told AFP, wearing a red cap. “We spent four years suffering. Today we are witnessing a renaissance of democracy”, insists this Brazilian, who waited hours to attend Lula’s speech in front of the presidential palace of Planalto.
Shortly before, Lula had accused Jair Bolsonaro, his far-right predecessor, who snubbed the ceremonies, of having “exhausted health resources, dismantled education, culture, science and technology and destroyed protection of the environment “.
The new president also assured that Brazil, a major agricultural power, did “not need to deforest” to support its agriculture. The international community expects strong gestures from him on the environment.
A minute of silence was observed in Congress in tribute to Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who died on Thursday, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday.
At the end of his speech, part of Congress gave the president a standing ovation, dressed in a blue suit and tie, shouting “Lula warrior of the Brazilian people! “.
Remarkable comeback
Narrowly elected on October 30 against Bolsonaro, the old lion of Brazilian politics was invested for a third term at the head of the great emerging country, 12 years after leaving power after two terms (2003-2010) .
Lula’s return to the Planalto Palace marks a remarkable comeback for the man who experienced prison only four years ago after being accused of corruption.
Maria Augusta Alvarez Silva, a 51-year-old teacher from the state of Sergipe (northeast), wept bitterly. “This speech moved me because it made me relive his whole trajectory, after prison, the injustices… Everyone said it was over,” she explains.
Tens of thousands of Brazilians, dressed in red, the color of his Workers’ Party (PT), cheered Lula along his journey in the traditional Rolls Royce convertible, in which he had taken place despite fears related to security, with his center-right vice-president Geraldo Alckmin and their wives.
No disturbance had been reported at the end of the day while the investiture ceremonies had been placed under tight security, for fear of protest actions by far-right activists who still do not recognize Lula’s victory.
Jair Bolsonaro, who left Brazil two days before the end of his mandate for Florida, in the United States, therefore did not hand over the presidential sash to his successor as is the democratic tradition, which does not is not produced since 1985 and the end of the military regime.
It was a group of citizens, including the cacique and emblematic defender of the Amazonian forest Raoni Metuktire, who presented him with the famous scarf set with gold and diamonds at the Planalto Presidential Palace, an architectural jewel of Oscar Niemeyer.
The day combined the pomp, with official ceremonies attended by around twenty heads of state – a record – with a popular celebration with concerts organized by Rosangela da Silva, “Janja”, Lula’s wife.
French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated his new Brazilian counterpart with two tweets, in French and Portuguese.
“Order and Progress: Brazil lives up to its motto. Congratulations dear president, dear friend @LulaOficial, for your investiture. We are together ! »
“Creating Chaos”
Reclusive and almost silent since his defeat in October, Bolsonaro, who loses his presidential immunity, left Brazil on Friday.
While his most radical followers wanted to prevent Lula’s accession to power and are still camped outside barracks in the country, demanding military intervention, security had been greatly reinforced in Brasília.
Patrols took place at the capital’s airport near which an explosive device was discovered a week ago in a tanker truck, placed by a Bolsonarist who wanted to “create chaos”.