The former Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), of the Workers’ Party (PT, left), will seek today, Sunday, in the second electoral round, to return to power with a plan of strong social content.
The former trade unionist has been the protagonist of a spectacular recovery of his political leadership after spending more than a year in prison between 2018 and 2019 due to a conviction that the Supreme Court later overturned.
Born into a low-income family in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Lula da Silva began his political career in trade unionism, founding the PT and the Central Única de Trabajadores (CUT), the largest trade union organization in Latin America.
In his two terms in office, Lula da Silva put the issue of hunger and poverty on the Brazilian political agenda and sought to reconcile social policies with fiscal discipline and sustainable economic growth.
Boosted by a favorable external front and a substantial increase in exports, the Brazilian economy was able to be stabilized, allowing tens of millions of Brazilians to be lifted out of poverty.
His international policy was very active and universalist, reinforcing traditional alliances and giving a solid impetus for South-South relations.
At the end of his second term, Lula da Silva finished as the most popular president in Brazilian history, with 80 percent approval.
However, the impacts of the international economic crisis and the multiple corruption scandals that splashed the PT and its allies eroded his figure after he left the presidency.
Lula da Silva was the target of the “Lava Jato” (Laundromat) operation, which, based on the rewarded information of senior executives of companies supplying the state-owned oil company Petrobras, led to the imprisonment of notorious political leaders and prominent businessmen.
The former president was convicted in 2017 by then-judge Sergio Moro and was in prison for 19 months. Later, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction, determining the nullity of the trial due to alleged bias vices by Moro.
Free again at the end of 2019, the former president has since dedicated himself to resuming his political career and weaving a wide range of alliances with left and center forces.
At 77 years old, he arrives at tomorrow Sunday’s runoff with a slight lead over President Jair Bolsonaro.
In the first round, held on Oct. 2, Lula da Silva obtained 57.2 million votes, 48.3 percent of the valid votes, to 51 million, 43.2 percent of the useful votes, for President Bolsonaro.
Among his main proposals is the return of the policy of an actual increase in the minimum wage, the strengthening of state-owned companies, and the fight against hunger and poverty.
In the last TV debate, held on Friday, the petista leader addressed voters, stating that during his government, “culture worked, education worked, the people worked, the salary increased”.
“We can rebuild this country; it only depends on you going to vote on Sunday”, added Lula da Silva.