Brazil. Leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva begins this Monday to tackle the challenges of governing Brazil for the third time, a country divided in two, although his first challenge is the silence of the president who was defeated in the vote, Jair Bolsonaro.
GALLERY: “The country is back”: Lula da Silva, after winning by a narrow margin.
The 77-year-old leader of the Workers’ Party (PT) defeated Bolsonaro by a very narrow margin, with 50.9 percent of the vote to 49.1 percent for the 67-year-old far-right.
More than 12 hours after the official results, Bolsonaro did not comment on Lula’s victory, which was immediately recognized by many leaders of the international community, including the American Joe Biden.
The extreme right-winger was imprisoned on Sunday in the official residence of Alvorada in Brasilia, and this Monday he arrived at the Planalto Palace without making any statements, an AFP photographer confirmed.
Only a few parliamentary allies of the president admitted defeat on social networks, where Bolsonarism is normally permanently active.
Truckers and other protesters blocked several highways in Brazil on Monday in apparent protest of Bolsonaro’s defeat, authorities said.
The Sao Paulo stock market fell 1.58 percent shortly after the open, as the Brazilian real fell to 5.40 against the dollar from Friday’s close of 5.30.
Lula with Alberto Fernandez
Lula will meet with Argentine Alberto Fernandez, a longtime ally, this Monday in Sao Paulo, the presidency in Buenos Aires reported.
Aware of the challenges he will have from January 1, 2023, when he will take office in the Planalto Palace, Lula admitted in his speech after his victory that he will have to rule “in a very difficult situation” and stressed that it is necessary to restore the “unity” of Brazilians .
The transition could represent the first challenge for Lulu, explained Paulo Calmon, professor of political science at the University of Brasilia.
“Lula must beware, above all, of the ‘third round’: any challenge that Bolsonaro and his allies can create, like (Donald) Trump in the United States, to delegitimize his victory and mobilize his electorate against him,” he said. Calmon.
The difference in votes was two million, the closest victory in Brazil’s history for a second round, after a polarized and tense campaign.
Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva narrowly defeated President Jair Bolsonaro in a surprise comeback. Official results show that Lula won 50.9% of the vote compared to 49.1% for Bolsonaro, when 99.9% of the votes were counted. Via GraphicNews.