Former labour union leader Lula was barred from competing in the elections that brought Bolsonaro to power four years ago after he was found guilty of money laundering and corruption in 2017 and given a sentence of nearly ten years in jail. His conviction was overturned on procedural grounds by the nation’s top court in 2021, allowing him to mount a political comeback. He was released in 2019 as a result of changes to the appeals laws. Lula, a 76-year-old cancer survivor, is vilified by some who view him as a symbol of corruption and venerated by those who credit him with enacting social policies that helped millions of people escape poverty during his two stints in office.
Lula, a 76-year-old cancer survivor, is vilified by some who view him as a symbol of corruption and venerated by those who credit him with enacting social policies that helped millions of people escape poverty during his two stints in office. Equally divisive is Bolsonaro, a 67-year-old former army captain who was attacked while out campaigning in 2018 and required multiple hospitalizations as a result of the incident. His detractors have dubbed him a far-right authoritarian and charge him with pushing misogyny, racism, and homophobia. His admirers view him as a defender of traditional family values and a crusader against corruption.
In addition to attempting to persuade investors that it is committed to solid fiscal policies, the incoming administration will have to address growing public indignation over rising living expenses, increasing poverty, and an increase in hunger in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. In order to encourage investment, Bolsonaro has promised to privatise the national postal service and Petroleo Brasileiro SA, slash corporate taxes, adopt pro-gun legislation, and make it more difficult for women to get abortions. According to Lula, he will alter the laws that restrict government expenditure, revise the tax code so that the wealthy pay more and the poor pay less, make sure that Brazil becomes self-sufficient in fuel and oil, and save the Amazon rainforest.
- Before entering politics in 1970s, he was a metal worker and a union leader. In 1970s, he was a familiar face during the strikes and called for hike in the wages of labourers.
- Lula was once also called the ‘most popular politician on earth’ by former American President Barack Obama.
- He became popular in the politics of Brazil and unsuccessfully contested elections in 1994 and 1998 only to win in 2003.
- Lula had come to power promising a change. His governance saw a massive expenditure on higher education and welfare programmes that aimed to pull Brazilians out of poverty.
- He left the office on a high note in 2010 with approval ratings of around 90%, but the following decade was very heavy for his party.
- Lula was accused in massive corruption scandals and for plunging Brazil into a massive recession.
- His successor Dilma Rouseff was impeached in 2016, in what many political observers in the country called a coup.
- In April 2018, Lula was sentenced to imprisonment for corruption scandals during his regime. However, in November 2019, he was released from the jail after spending nearly 580 days inside prison.
- He was not allowed to contest for the President of Brazil in 2018 and thereby Bolsonaro won the elections.
- In 2022, he is fully geared up to become the new President of Brazil. Lula supporters say, that they see in him the right man to lead the country out of the mess in which Brazil is in.
Why Lula started his campaign from Amazon? 76- year old Lula chose Amazon as one of his key destinations for his campaign trail.
- His rival Bolsonaro is criticised for destroying the amazon rainforests.
- Lula knew that this is was one of the biggest political issues in this election and he exploited it for his own gain. In the campaign, he said: “We need to look after our forest, our fauna, our water, but most of all, we need to look after our people because they’re struggling, they’re in need and they need to live with dignity. We can reclaim this country, it’s possible to once again walk with our head held high,” Lula was quoted as saying by the BBC.
- Besides the Amazon rainforest, Bolsonaro is also criticised for the huge economic mess in which Brazil is at the moment. His governance was also criticised for poor handling of the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil which saw the death of around 5,85,000 people.
