The left returns to power in Brazil at the hands of Lula

Jair Bolsonaro, after giving a speech on social networks, left Brazil on Friday, December 30, and traveled to the United States, two days before the end of his term. For the first time since 1985, an incoming president will not receive the presidential sash from his predecessor, and it remains anyone’s guess who will hand it over to Lula.

Some 300,000 people are expected in the streets of the capital to closely follow the investiture and a mega-concert with more than 60 musicians in the emblematic Esplanade of the Ministries.

Listen here to the program dedicated to the new government:

Lula appoints 16 ministers and gives signs of a government that will prioritize marginalized populations

Shouting “Lula, warrior of the Brazilian people!” and “Aha, uhu, the Esplanade is ours!” Hundreds of fans queued up early in the morning at security checkpoints, AFP found.

Some even stopped by the hotel where Lula is staying first, like Valter Gildo, who unfurled a banner that read “Welcome back to the capital, President Lula.”

“It’s a historic day, the return of a worker to the Esplanade who defends social causes, minorities, racial issues,” said the 46-year-old machine operator.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 77, will be proclaimed president for the third time after having governed between 2003 and 2010, together with his vice president, Geraldo Alckmin, in a ceremony in Congress scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. GMT).

Shortly after, the climax will come: you are expected to get out of the traditional black Rolls Royce convertible in front of the Planalto presidential palace, walk down the building’s ramp and receive the sash, a green and yellow silk ribbon, the colors of the national flag. , embroidered in gold and diamonds.

The leftist will also be supported by about twenty heads of state, the largest number for a takeover in Brazil.

Among these are the leaders of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Honduras and Uruguay, as well as the King of Spain.

Washington sent Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first indigenous woman to form a cabinet in the United States and a harsh critic of Bolsonaro, while Vice President Wang Qishan will attend on behalf of China.

Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro could participate in the ceremony after Bolsonaro lifted the ban on his entry into Brazilian territory on Friday. Lula plans to restore diplomatic relations with Caracas, broken in 2019 when Brasilia recognized the opposition Juan Guaidó as interim president.

immediate challenges

The leftist president will have greater immediate challenges than he has faced in his other two presidencies, which left him with an unusual popularity rating of 87%.

Some 30 million of the 215 million Brazilians go hungry and the economy is barely able to recover after the pandemic hit.

“In the first 100 days, he must show which direction the government will take. The electoral victory was tight and he will face a divided country with a fierce opposition. He needs to lead a government of pacification and national unity,” explained Leandro Consentino, a political scientist at the Insper institute in Sao Paul.

Lula prevailed over Bolsonaro in the run-off on October 30 by 50.9% of the votes compared to 49.1%, a result that revealed a deeply polarized society.

The ex-unionist must gain “credibility” regarding the management of public accounts in the face of a delicate fiscal situation, despite the fact that his campaign promises require an increase in spending to finance social programs, according to Consentino.

According to a survey by the Datafolha institute on Saturday, only 51% of Brazilians believe that Lula will govern better than Bolsonaro, the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper reported.

Safety concern

Brasilia will mobilize 100% of its police for Lula’s inauguration and could deploy up to 8,000 agents.

A thousand agents will carry out “intelligence and security” tasks, the largest contingent for an investiture.

And the carrying of weapons for various categories of civilians will be prohibited.

The preparations for the inauguration were shaken after the arrest of a Bolsonaro member who planted an explosive near the Brasilia airport to “cause chaos”, provoke the declaration of a state of siege and thus prevent the inauguration, according to his own confession. .

Since the ballot, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters mobilized in various cities to reject the result at the polls and call for military intervention.

Meanwhile, the ultra-rightist, who has remained practically silent since he lost the election, settled in Florida for a trip scheduled to run until January 30.

According to Folha de Sao Paulo, Bolsonaro is staying at the house of former Brazilian martial arts fighter José Aldo, in the city of Kissimmee.

(With AFP)