Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday night married Rosangela da Silva, a sociologist 21 years his junior who would be appointed first lady if the president won the election in October.
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday night married Rosangela da Silva, a sociologist 21 years his junior who would be appointed first lady if the president won the election in October. Lula, 76, posted a photo on Instagram of what appears to be him taking the vows as he puts the wedding ring on the bride’s finger at a party hall in Sao Paulo’s Brooklin neighborhood. This closed-off event brought together around 200 guests, including politicians and artists, who were only informed of the location of the ceremony the day before.
According to Brazilian media, everyone was instructed to leave their cell phones in the dressing room. Former President Dilma Rousseff, ex-Governor of Sao Paulo and Lula’s running mate Geraldo Alckmin, and singer Gilberto Gil were seen arriving at the party, which started at 19:00 (22:00 GMT). This is the third marriage of Lula, 76, twice widowed. The icon of the Brazilian left said “yes” to “Janja”, 55, a committed feminist and long-time fighter for the Workers’ Party (PT, Left). Lula wore a blue suit and Rosangela a cream dress by Brazilian designer Helo Rocha, embroidered with stars, moons, cacti and other plants from Nordeste, Lula’s adopted hometown. According to CNN Brasil, the menu consists of “typically Brazilian flavors,” including “Bobo de Camarao,” a dish made with palm oil shrimp. The party is expected to last until 2 or 3am, with a DJ and live bands.
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A committed woman
Rumors abounded on social media about the cost of the wedding and the wines that would be served there. Supporters of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro have been unleashed on the lifestyle of Lula, who is often portrayed as a little father to the poor. “Janja,” as her relatives call her, has been a member of the PT, co-founded by Lula, since 1983, which the polls promise to defeat President Jair Bolsonaro in October. The qualified sociologist worked for almost 20 years in the public energy company Itaipu Binacional, which manages the huge Itaipu Dam. According to the Brazilian press, Lula and “Janja” have known each other for decades. But the former president’s press service assures that their love affair began only at the end of 2017.
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It only became public in May 2019 when Lula was jailed for corruption. Rosangela da Silva had attended a camp of activists who stayed opposite the prison for 18 months and visited the former trade unionist several times until his release in November 2019. As the presidential election approaches, this smiling brown-haired woman has been multiplying public appearances alongside Lula, most notably on April 7 when the latter launched his campaign for a third term after presiding over Brazil from 2003-2010. Lula was born in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, and has been married twice before. His first wife, whom he married in 1969, died of hepatitis two years later. The second, Marisa Leticia, with whom he had four children, was his steadfast support for decades before she died of a stroke in 2017.