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Lula da Silva’s election win renews hope for Brazil’s future

Brazil’s new president Lula da Silva has driven Jair Bolsonaro out of office with a narrow electoral win this weekend. This has renewed hope that the nation’s problems with gun violence, deforestation, and anti-LGBTQ+ policies can now be addressed.

Everyone loves a comeback story, and they don’t come much sweeter than this.

Two-time president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a third presidential term on Sunday in a narrow victory over his far-right adversary Jair Bolsonaro.

Previously sentenced in 2017 for corruption and money laundering – in what was largely lamented as a crooked persecution – the former metal worker served close to 600 days of a 12 year sentence before being exonerated in 2019. In that time, Bolsonaro took office.

His successor’s legacy included pro-gun policies, weakened environmental protections for the Amazon rainforest, a shocking response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have left Latin America’s largest country increasingly isolated from the rest of the world.

Pope Francis warned of Bolsonaro’s ‘blind and destructive mentality’ upon his instatement, which has reared its head in many inflammatory moments covered throughout the years on Thred.

The burden of responsibility now falls on Lula da Silva – by contrast, a man Barack Obama once described as ‘the most popular politician on Earth’ – to fix the mess at 77 years of age.

Tall as the order is, a look through recent history provides reason to be optimistic about his chances, and young folk are already rejoicing at the prospect of living in ‘new times of peace, love, and hope.’

Leaving the hot seat 12 years ago with a record 87% approval rating, the veteran politician lifted millions from extreme poverty, expanded access to education and healthcare, and spurred a commodity boom which saw Brazil’s economy rise to the sixth-largest on the planet.

At his campaign headquarters on Sunday, Lula proclaimed that his return would spark a ‘resurrection’ for democracy in Brazil. Keen to bring foreign investment back, he zealously declared, ‘we will fight for zero deforestation,’ after 15-year highs under Bolsonaro.

Some ecological experts had gone as far to say that the fate of the Amazon – the lungs of the planet – had rested solely on the results of Brazil’s election. Suffice to say, this change is hugely significant.

His valour is already being celebrated by other world leaders now keen to bring the nation back into the fold, including Rishi Sunak, Joseph Biden, Alberto Fernandez, and Andres Lopez Obrador; who praised the change as a win for ‘equality and humanism.’

Amid the euphoria, signs of change are already evident. It was touching to see throngs of people of all ages celebrating in the streets over the weekend.

Rainbow flags were proudly draped on people’s shoulders, the word ‘liberdade’ (freedom) was visible everywhere, and chants of ‘Viva Lula’ echoed for hours.

That being said, opposition still exists as the blanket finish showed in the ballots. The hard work is just beginning, but a now grey Lula appears to be well and truly up for the fight.

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