Lula Was Just Inaugurated as Brazil’s President. His Return Is a Win for the Global Left.
Leftist leader Lula da Silva was inaugurated on Sunday as Brazil’s president. It’s a huge win for the global left — I only wish the late Michael Brooks, who tirelessly agitated for Lula’s release from prison, would have lived to see his return to power.
Brazil’s new president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after being sworn in during his inauguration ceremony at the National Congress in Brasilia, on January 1, 2023. (Mauro Pimentel / AFP via Getty Images)
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, better known as Lula, just took office for a third term as president of Brazil. His return to power is a stunning revival of political fortunes, coming after he spent 580 days in jail following an unethical, politically motivated prosecution.
Lula’s inauguration is good news for Brazilian democracy. Former president Jair Bolsonaro was closely associated with Brazil’s murderous right-wing paramilitaries, and he has nothing but praise for the dictatorship that once ran the country. It was an open question whether he would abide by the result of the election.
Lula taking office is also good news for the planet, given the importance of the Amazon rainforest to combating global climate change. Bolsonaro oversaw the destruction of vast swaths of the Amazon and would surely have doubled down on that policy if he’d been reelected (or managed to hold on to the presidency by force).
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