Lula takes over in Brazil, slams Bolsonaro’s anti-democratic threats

BRASILIA – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil‘s president on Sunday, delivering a searing indictment of far-right former chief Jair Bolsonaro and vowing a drastic change in fact to rescue a nation plagued by starvation, poverty and racism.

In a speech to Congress after formally taking the reins of Latin America’s greatest nation, the leftist stated democracy was the true winner of the October presidential vote, when he ousted Mr. Bolsonaro in probably the most fraught election for a technology.

Mr. Bolsonaro, who left Brazil for the USA on Friday after refusing to concede defeat, rattled the cages of Brazil‘s younger democracy with baseless claims of electoral weaknesses that birthed a violent motion of election deniers.

“Democracy was the great victor in this election, overcoming … the most violent threats to freedom to vote, and the most abject campaign of lies and hate plotted to manipulate and embarrass the electorate,” Mr. Lula advised lawmakers.

Mr. Lula, who was behind bars throughout Bolsonaro’s 2019 inauguration on graft convictions that have been later overturned, delivered a veiled risk to his predecessor.

“We do not carry any spirit of revenge against those who tried to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs, but we will guarantee the rule of law,” Mr. Lula stated, with out mentioning Mr. Bolsonaro by identify. “Those who erred will answer for their errors.”

He additionally accused Mr. Bolsonaro’s administration of committing “genocide” by failing to reply correctly to the COVID-19 virus that killed greater than 680,000 Brazilians.

“The responsibilities for this genocide must be investigated and must not go unpunished,” he stated.

Though Mr. Bolsonaro’s Florida journey insulates him from any quick authorized jeopardy in Brazil, he now faces mounting judicial dangers – associated to his anti–democratic rhetoric and his pandemic dealing with – after dropping his presidential immunity, authorized consultants stated.

Mr. Lula‘s plans for government provided a stark contrast to Bolsonaro’s 4 years in workplace, which have been characterised by backsliding on environmental protections in the Amazon rainforest, looser gun legal guidelines and weaker protections for indigenous peoples and minorities.

Mr. Lula stated he desires to show Brazil, one of many world’s high meals producers, right into a inexperienced superpower.

US SUPPORT

In his first choices as president, Mr. Lula restored the authority of the government’s environmental safety company Ibama to fight unlawful deforestation, which had been diluted by Mr. Bolsonaro, and revoked a measure that inspired unlawful mining on protected indigenous lands.

He additionally unfroze the billion-dollar Amazon fund financed by Norway and Germany to again sustainability initiatives, reinforcing his dedication to ending deforestation in the Amazon, which surged to a 15-year excessive underneath Mr. Bolsonaro.

The administration of US President Joe Biden, who shared little in frequent with Mr. Bolsonaro and chafed at his lackluster environmental insurance policies, wished Lula and his Vice President Geraldo Alckmin success.

“We look forward to continuing the strong US-Brazil partnership in trade, security, sustainability, innovation, and inclusion,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted. “Here’s to a bright future for our countries – and the world.”

King Charles of Britain congratulated Lula on his return to workplace in a letter in which he provided to deepen cooperation with Brazil, particularly on the surroundings.

“I was encouraged to hear you emphasize the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis in your victory speech and at COP27,” the king wrote in the letter disclosed by the British embassy.

After the swearing-in, Mr. Lula drove in an open-top Rolls-Royce to the Planalto palace, the place he walked up its ramp along with his spouse and a various group that included Chief Raoni Metuktire of the Kayapó tribe, a younger Black boy, a prepare dinner and a disabled man.

Mr. Lula was then handed the presidential sash – a massively symbolic act in Brazil that Bolsonaro had repeatedly stated he would by no means do – by Aline Sousa, a Black rubbish collector.

Tens of hundreds who had gathered to have a good time on Brasilia’s esplanade cheered as Lula wiped away tears.

In a subsequent speech, he pledged to unite the polarized nation and govern for all Brazilians.

“There are not two Brazils,” Lula stated. “We are one country, one great nation.”

Lula stated he could be fiscally prudent, however made clear his most important focus could be on ending starvation and narrowing rampant inequality. He additionally stated he goals to enhance the rights of girls, and assault racism and Brazil‘s legacy of slavery.

“This will be the hallmark of our government,” he stated.

Allies stated Lula‘s new-found social conscience was the results of his 580 days in jail, Reuters reported on Sunday.

TIGHT SECURITY

In his preliminary decrees, Lula revoked Bolsonaro’s looser gun insurance policies, which had prompted a pointy rise in gun possession.

“Brazil does not want more weapons, it wants peace and security for its people,” he stated.

Mr. Lula‘s inauguration happened amid heightened safety.

A few of Bolsonaro’s supporters have claimed the election was stolen and referred to as for a navy coup to cease Lula returning to workplace in a local weather of vandalism and violence.

On Christmas Eve, a Bolsonaro supporter was arrested for making a bomb that was discovered on a truck laden with aviation gas on the entrance to Brasilia airport, and confessed he was looking for to impress a navy intervention.

Bolsonaro has seen his assist amongst many former allies evaporate because of the anti–democratic protests.

On Saturday evening, then-acting President Hamilton Mourao, who was Bolsonaro’s vp, criticized his former boss for permitting anti–democratic sentiment to thrive post-election.

“Leaders who were supposed to reassure and unite the nation … allowed silence or inopportune and deleterious protagonism to create an atmosphere of chaos and social disintegration,” Mr. Mourao stated.

Mr. Lula‘s election victory marked a shocking political comeback, giving him an unprecedented third time period after a hiatus that noticed him spend a year-and-a-half behind bars.

In his earlier two phrases as president from 2003-2010, the previous union chief lifted hundreds of thousands of Brazilians from poverty throughout a commodity growth that buoyed the economic system.

Now, he faces the daunting problem of bettering Brazil‘s stagnant economic system whereas additionally uniting a divided nation.

“A lot is expected of Lula,” stated Creomar de Souza, director of Dharma Political Threat consultancy in Brasilia. “He’ll have the difficult mission to restore normality and predictability in Brazil, and above all to rapidly deliver results that improve the quality of life for its inhabitants.” — Reuters

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