Lula da Silva walked up the ramp of the Planalto Palace and stated in his inauguration speech, “democracy forever”

Receiving the sash from a mix of an indigenous, black woman, child, worker, and handicapped, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (77) contemplated the Brazilian population.

The country’s politics is divided; on one side, a protesting minority, which existed dormant and gained light with former president Jair Bolsonaro, and on the other side, those who want the return of what they consider the best economic period in the recent history of the Country.

The act of walking up the ramp was symbolic because there were countless threats of attacks coming from protesting lines based on their fear of election fraud, which hoped this moment would not happen before a thorough third-party analysis of the votes was performed.

He went up the ramp and was officially seated in the presidential chair.

This internal war, these “two Brazils,” must give way to peace.

“There are not two Brazils. We are one Country, one people, one great nation. We are all Brazilians and share the same virtue: never give up.”

Even if they pluck all our flowers, one by one, petal by petal, we know that it is always time to replant and that spring will come. And spring has arrived.

Another point that will again be part of  Brazil should be international relations.

“To break with international isolation and return to relations with all the countries of the world,” said Lula da Silva.

In his speech to the National Congress, Lula da Silva stressed democracy “If we are here today, it is thanks to the political conscience of Brazilian society and to the democratic front that we have formed throughout this historic electoral campaign.

It is a fact that many fights, even among family members and friends, took place during the election.

Lula da Silva encouraged peace: “Nobody is interested in a country on a permanent war footing or a family living in disharmony. It’s time to reconnect with friends and family, broken by hate speech and the dissemination of many lies.”

( Zeca Ribeiro – Special for The Rio Times)

He also highlighted the numerous fake news, which made people believe there would be a military coup.

He said that the election that gave him victory brought “The most violent threats to the freedom of the vote, the most abject campaign of lies and hate plotted to manipulate and embarrass the electorate.”

Lula da Silva compared the antagonism in Brazil with the words dignity and oppression.

“The freedom we have always defended is to live with dignity, with full rights of expression, manifestation, and organization. The freedom they (Bolsonarism) preach is that of oppressing the vulnerable, massacring the opponent, and imposing the law of the strongest above the laws of civilization. The name of this is barbarism.”

THE RETURN OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION

Those who follow the Brazilian mainstream press had been told that the Bolsonaro government hid data daily and did not respond to any questioning (unless with a court order), especially from the press.

Lula da Silva said that this authoritarian model is over:

“As of today, the Access to Information Law will be enforced again, the Transparency Portal will resume its role, and republican controls will be exercised again to defend the public interest.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WILL HAVE INCENTIVES

Regarding the development model, the president defined a north.

This line says, “It will be up to the state to articulate the digital transition and bring Brazilian industry into the 21st century with an industrial policy that supports innovation, stimulates public-private cooperation, strengthens science and technology, and ensures access to financing at adequate costs.

He highlighted investments in the knowledge industry in dialogue with the productive sector, research centers, universities, public and state banks, and development agencies.

THE ENVIRONMENT IS ON THE GOVERNMENTS AGENDA

Responsible for the most extensive world forests still intact, Lula da Silva said that Brazil would become a tremendous environmental power, starting from what he called “bio-economy” when he mentioned the “energetic and ecological transition to sustainable farming and mining, a stronger family agriculture, a greener industry”.

“Our goal is to achieve zero deforestation in the Amazon and zero emission of greenhouse gases in the electricity matrix, as well as stimulating the reuse of degraded pastures. Brazil does not need to deforest to maintain and expand its strategic agricultural frontier,” he said in response to the agribusiness sector, which in parts opposed his electoral victory.

Citing that he would encourage similar conditions for whites and blacks, men and women, without religious or discrimination, he highlighted his first acts as president of the Republic.

“We are revoking the criminal decrees expanding access to weapons and ammunition, which have caused so much insecurity and harm to Brazilian families. Brazil does not want more weapons; it wants peace and security for its people.”

Lula da Silva said he doesn’t hold grudges against those who voted for other candidates.

“I also want to address those who opted for other candidates. I will govern for the 215 million Brazilians, not only those who voted for me. I will govern for all of them, looking to our bright common future and not through the rearview mirror of a past of division and intolerance.”

Click here to see more pictures of Lula da Silva’s inauguration.

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