By Ben Kerrigan-
Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil – the third time he has held the country’s highest office.
Luiz Inacio, the veteran left-wing politician, who led the country for seven years between 200 3 and 2010, defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October’s poll.
“Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction,” Lula said in a speech before the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress, after signing the document that formally instated him as president.
“The great edifice of rights, sovereignty and development that this nation built has been systematically demolished in recent years. And to re-erect this edifice, we are going to direct all our efforts.
Foreign dignitaries, including 19 heads of state, were in attendance as Lula took the oath of office for a new four-year term. Among them were the king of Spain and the presidents of Germany, Portugal, and a raft of Latin American countries.
The veteran promised to fight to improve life for poor Brazilians, work towards racial and gender equality, and achieve zero deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
“The mandate we received, in the face of opponents inspired by fascism, will be defended through our democratic constitution. We will respond to hate with love, to lies with the truth, to terrorism and violence with the law.”
Lula also delivered a veiled threat to Bolsonaro, who faces mounting legal risks for his anti-democratic rhetoric and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic now that he no longer has presidential immunity.
“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,” Lula said, without mentioning his predecessor by name. “Those who erred will answer for their errors.”
Bolsonaro’s supporters have falsely claimed that the election was stolen and have protested for two months, calling for a military coup to stop Lula from returning to office in a climate of vandalism and violence.
After the swearing-in, Lula left Congress in an open-top Rolls-Royce, arriving at the Planalto Palace, where he walked up its ramp with a diverse group that included his wife Rosangela, Chief Raoni Metuktire of the Kayapó tribe, a young Black boy and a disabled man. Lula was then handed the presidential sash – a hugely symbolic act in Brazil that Bolsonaro had repeatedly said he would never do – by a Black woman.
Firefighters spray water over supporters of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gathering to attend his inauguration as new president outside the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday, January 1, 2023 [Eraldo Peres/AP]
Lula, who was briefly imprisoned for corruption before his conviction was subsequently overturned, returned to the presidency after a 12 year hiatus, in what was an emotional moment for him, sobbing as he spoke of beggars by traffic lights in the country.
High security presence at Lula’s inauguration saw approximately 8,000 security agents from several security forces mobilized Sunday, according to the Federal District’s security department.
Earlier on Sunday, a man was arrested in Brasilia after he was caught trying to get into the inauguration party carrying a knife and fireworks, the State Police of the Federal District said in a statement. The suspect travelled from Rio de Janeiro.
Lula said that democracy was the biggest winner of the Brazilian election after his campaign was able to overcome a series of obstacles.
“Despite everything, the decision in the ballots prevails, thanks to an electoral system internationally recognized for its efficacy. It was fundamental the courageous attitude of the Judiciary, mostly from the Supreme Electoral Court,” Lula continued.
Lula proceeded his speech by criticizing the government of Bolsonaro, accusing the former president of using Brazil’s resources to further increase his power.
“The diagnosis we received from the transition cabinet is appalling. They emptied the resources for health, dismantled education, culture, science, they destroyed the environmental protections, haven’t left resources to school meals, vaccines, public security, forest protection and social assistance,” Lula said.
In his first speech, Lula vowed to rebuild a country in “terrible ruins”.
He decried the policies of his predecessor, who went to the US on Friday to avoid the handover ceremony.
Lula’s supporters gathered in front of Congress to celebrate the swearing in of their leader as over 60 artists – including Samba legend Martinho da Vila – were booked to perform on two giant stages decorated in the national flag as part of a music festival dubbed “Lulapalooza”.
“Love has won over hate,” read one banner carried by a man dressed as Lula – complete with a presidential sash.
“Brazil needed this change, this transformation,” said another backer of the incoming leader as she queued for Sunday’s festivities..
Lula and incoming Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin paraded through the city on an open-top convertible before proceeding to the Congress building – where the swearing-in occurred at the start of the formal inauguration ceremony.
The men have spent the past days selecting their cabinet and appointing supporters to key state-owned businesses.
Shortly after being sworn in, Lula sought to instil a sense of hope in the people of Brazil, and promised to “rebuild the nation and make a Brazil of all, for all”.
Lula knows that his ultimate challenge will be to convince those who feel he is a corrupt politician who belongs in jail that he does now belong in the presidential palace again and can be their leader too..
He vowed to revoke Mr Bolsonaro’s controversial gun laws immediately.
Lula went on to state that his government would not be motivated by “a spirit of revenge”, but that those who had made mistakes would answer for their errors.
In particular, he singled out Mr Bolsonaro’s Covid-19 policies, accusing him of causing a “genocide” of deaths in Brazil during the pandemic, which would need to be fully investigated.
In another noted change of policy from the Bolsonaro administration, Marina Silva – one of Brazil’s best known climate activists – was re-appointed to head the environment and climate ministry. She will be expected to achieve Lula’s pledge – which was repeated during his speech – to reach “zero deforestation” in the Amazon by 2030.
Lots of people were waving banners or wearing T-shirts with the words “Love conquers hate,” a reference to the narrative many felt came from Mr Bolsonaro.
Mr Bolsonaro abandoning his final official duty of passing on the presidential sash, it was left to Eni Souza, a rubbish picker, to do the honours. And standing next to Lula was an indigenous leader, a black boy and a disabled influencer. In this often racist country, it was an important image that will endure.
One man was arrested trying to enter the area of the inauguration carrying a knife and fireworks earlier on Sunday, Brazil’s military police said.
Last week, authorities arrested a supporter of Mr Bolsonaro who had allegedly placed explosives on a fuel truck near an airport in the capital on Christmas Eve. The man said he hoped to “sow chaos” ahead of Lula’s inauguration.
Avid supporters of the former leader have remained camped outside army headquarters, where they have been urging the army to launch a coup. Police attempted to remove the demonstrators on Thursday, but withdrew after they reacted violently.
However, Mr Bolsonaro has condemned the protests against his defeat, urging his supporters to “show we are different from the other side, that we respect the norms and the Constitution”.