In his maiden speech as Brazil’s 39th president, Lula da Silva began by saying that with his election “democracy emerged victorious” at the end of what he called a bitter campaign of hate.
Lula da Silva thanked the Supreme Court for “having the courage” to “let truth prevail over violence” in the election results.
This was followed by a series of criticisms of the previous government, accusing it of putting “private shareholder interests” above the “public interest”, in order to take on the “commitment to make Brazil a country for all”.
Moved, the Brazilian leader spoke of the return of the scourge of hunger in the country and said he will form a government that will focus on rebuilding government structures he says were destroyed by his predecessor, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
“If we are here, it is thanks to the political awareness of Brazilian society and the democratic front that we have formed. Democracy was the great victor and overcame the greatest mobilization of public and private resources ever seen, the most violent threats to freedom to vote”, said at the beginning of his first speech as president.
“Our message to Brazil is one of hope and reconstruction. The great building of rights, sovereignty and development that this nation has built has been systematically demolished in recent years. It is to rebuild this building where we put all our efforts,” he added. .
The official recalled that in 2002, when he won the first presidential election, he and his supporters said hope had overcome fear, in the sense of overcoming fears in the face of the unprecedented election of a working-class representative.
And “it was shown that a representative of the working class could, yes, engage in a dialogue with society to promote economic growth in a sustainable way for the benefit of all, especially the most deprived,” he recalled.
Now, however, Lula da Silva said he received a shock diagnosis from the transitional cabinet.
“They have drained health resources. They have dismantled education, culture, science and technology. They have destroyed environmental protections. They have left no resources for school lunches, vaccination, public safety,” he said.
“It is on these terrible ruins that I make a commitment with the Brazilian people to rebuild the country and make Brazil again for everyone and for everyone,” then said.
A series of promises for the future followed, from the fight against hunger to the goal of achieving a “carbon-free” energy nation, including the ban on civilians carrying weapons.
“We are repealing the criminal decrees to expand access to arms and ammunition, which have caused so much insecurity and so much damage to Brazilian families. Brazil doesn’t want more guns, it wants peace and security for its people,” Lula announced.
take office
Progressive leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in as the 39th president of the Federative Republic of Brazil this Sunday in a solemn ceremony at the National Congress in Brasília.
“I pledge to uphold, defend and fulfill the Constitution, to observe the laws and to promote the common good of the Brazilian people, to support the unity, integrity and independence of Brazil,” said Lula da Silva.
The new Brazilian president had already served two terms (2003 to 2010).
Lula da Silva was received in Congress by the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, Arthur Lira and Rodrigo Pacheco, respectively.
The solemn opening session began with a short intervention by the President of the Senate, who honored the football player Pelé and the recently deceased Pope Benedict XVI and asked for a minute’s silence.
Then came the national anthem and then Lula da Silva confirmed the Constitutional Commitment and signed the term of office along with Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin.
On the route between the Planalto Palace and the Senate, the crowd of Brazilians waiting for Lula da Silva’s open car parade could not hide the tears of emotion and happiness when they saw “the president of the people” pass by.
“There were many years of grief and struggle,” says António, age 81, immediately hugging his grandson.
“The unique people will never be defeated” and “the warrior squid of the Brazilian people” were sung with full force and clenched fists on the Esplanada dos Ministérios, where thousands of Brazilians from all corners of the country went to see the future President, which has never ceased to exist for them.
Lula da Silva sat next to the first lady, Rosângela Silva, visibly smiling and waving to the supporters who accompanied the passing of the car, a Rolls-Royce that has served the presidency of the Republic since 1952 and is traditionally used in this ceremonies,
The vice president, Geraldo Alckmin and his wife, Maria Lúcia Guimarães Ribeiro Alckmin, were in the same car as the president, protected by two rows of guards, traveling on foot.
Source: DN
