Lula da Silva assumes as president of Brazil

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in this Sunday as president of Brazil with his sights set on the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and the environment as the main challenges, in an extremely polarized political environment.

Lula da Silva, 77, took office with his vice president, Geraldo Alckmin, in a ceremony held in the Chamber of Deputies of the Brazilian National Congress, which was not attended by outgoing president Jair Bolsonaro, who two days before left the country for the United States to avoid being in the oath of his successor.

Before the oath, the attendees observed a minute of silence in tribute to the recently deceased pope emeritus Benedict XVI.

For Lula it is the third term at the helm of the South American giant, the one he led from 2003 to 2011.

“Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction,” said the veteran president in his inauguration speech, in which he referred to the “destruction of public policies that promoted citizenship, essential rights, health, and education.” during the previous administration.

“It is on these terrible ruins that I assume the commitment, together with the Brazilian people, to rebuild the country and make again a Brazil of all and for all,” he insisted. The president warned, however, that he does not come to the presidency with “any spirit of revenge.”

According to Lula, among the first actions of his government will be “rescuing 33 million people from hunger and rescuing more than 100 million Brazilians from poverty.”

Lula also announced that he will reorganize the Executive, guarantee the transparency of its management, refound the Ministries of Women and Culture and protect religious freedom.

He also promised that he will strive to curb inflation and promote economic and sustainable growth, as well as prioritizing environmental protection, with special emphasis on the Amazon.

The new Brazilian president also announced that he will revoke the decrees that facilitated access to arms and ammunition “that caused so much insecurity and so much damage to Brazilian families.”

“The eyes of the world were on Brazil in these elections. The world hopes that Brazil will once again be a leader in confronting the climate crisis and an example of a socially and environmentally responsible country, capable of promoting economic growth,” the president said before The congress.

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