Brazil’s Lula da Silva has made a political come back after serving his jail term. He beat the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro after garnering 50.9% of total votes cast.
Lula da Silva has been behind the bars for allegedly soliciting bribes from a construction company in exchange for government tenders by government-owned oil company Petrobras. Da Silva spent barely two years in prison (580 days) before his conviction was revised, a move that handed him another opportunity to contest South America’s nation’s top seat.
First, Lula da Silva was the Brazil’s President from 2003 – 2010. He was then implicated in a number of crimes, which later led to his arrest and conviction in 2018.
However, upon his acquittal, in the just concluded presidential election, most Brazilians had a lot of confidence in him since – they argued – he lifted many Brazilians from poverty line.
Many Brazilians voted for him because of what his past leadership meant for them. Many opinion polls also projected that Lula da Silva would trounce the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.
On his part, his right-wing competitor – who was the incumbent – cast aspersions with the electronic electoral process. Up to now, Jair Bolsonaro, the now-outgoing president, has not conceded defeat.
Bolsonaro’s supporters also, on their part, have not yet allowed the fact that Lula da Silva has again been elected as the president again.
They had constantly called him ‘a thief’ – further saying that the annulment of his jail term doesn’t imply that he is innocent.
In his victory speech, Lula da Silva struck a conciliatory tone, saying he would govern for all Brazilians and not just those who voted for him.
“This country needs peace and unity. This population doesn’t want to fight anymore,” he said.
The 77-year old octogenarian left-wing politician was full of himself after being declared as the winner.
“They tried to bury me alive and here I am,” he said, kicking off his victory speech.
