Twenty years into his first term, and in a climate of great tension due to the threat of attack from fanatics of the extreme right, the progressive Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took over the presidency of Brazil. In his inaugural address to the United Chambers, Lula condemned the unprecedented climate of political violence permeating the country, underscored the strength of democratic institutions and expressed his desire to bring peace to the country. “I send a message of hope and recovery,” said the head of state, stressing that his government “will respond to violence with the law.”
The inauguration ceremony was accompanied by an extraordinary effort by the security forces in the face of the threat of a new attack and threats from fanatical supporters of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro. Confirming the concerns of the authorities, a man with a knife and explosives was blocked by the federal department’s military police at the entrance to the festival site later in the day. Despite the security agencies’ suggestion as to the specific threats, Lula chose to roam the streets of Brasilia in a traditional Rolls-Royce convertible rather than in an armored vehicle.
Security risks didn’t even dampen the euphoria of the progressive leader’s supporters, who flocked to the capital in their thousands to celebrate Lula’s return and to attend the music festival organized on the outskirts of the settlement and evocatively christened “Festival Futuro”. . The atmosphere of tension that characterized the ceremony anticipates and certainly describes one of the greatest challenges that awaits the new President in the next four years at the helm of Brazil. Lula comes to power against the backdrop of a highly polarized political climate in which a section of the electorate is loyal to the former president Bolsonaro who does not recognize his victory and who has tried by all means, including with the help of the military, to avert “the return of communism to power”.
Bolsonaro in the US
Bolsonaro flew to the United States. Because of this, for the first time since 1988, the outgoing president was not only in the ceremony but out of the country during the transition of power.
In any case, Lula enjoys the full support of the Communist International. His inauguration ceremony was attended by 19 heads of state, including the King of Spain, Felipe VI. – and representatives from 120 countries. Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro, whose presence was first announced by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then denied, was absent.