Disclaimer: This is a user generated content submitted by a member of the WriteUpCafe Community. The views and writings here reflect that of the author and not of WriteUpCafe. If you have any complaints regarding this post kindly report it to us.

On Sunday the leftist defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in an extremely tight election that marked an about-face for the country after four years of far-right politics, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has done it again: after first winning the Brazilian presidency twenty years.

The election authority said that with more than 99% of the votes tallied in the runoff vote andDa Silva’s victory was a mathematical certainty, da Silva had 50.9% and Bolsonaro 49.1%.

From the 2018 election that brought Bolsonaro it is a stunning reversal whose 2018 imprisonment over a corruption scandal sidelined him, a defender of conservative social values, to power, for da Silva, 77.

Beyond his leftist Workers’ Party Da Silva is promising to govern. For the first time he wants to bring in centrists and even some leaning to the right who voted for him, and to restore the country’s more prosperous past. In a politically polarized society where economic growth is slowing and inflation is soaring yet he faces headwinds.

The sitting president has failed to win reelection since Brazil’s 1985 return to democracy; his victory marks the first time. In Latin America’s biggest economy, the highly polarized election extended a wave of recent leftist victories in the region including Chile, Colombia and Argentina.

Bolsonaro had yet to concede the election, as Lula prepared to give a speech at a hotel in downtown Sao Paulo Sunday evening.

In over three decades it was the country’s closest election. With 99.5% of the vote counted, just over 2 million votes separated the two candidates. In 2014 the previous closest race was decided by a margin of 3.46 million votes.

To take place on Jan. 1 Da Silva’s inauguration is scheduled. From 2003-2010 he last served as president.

An independent political analyst, Thomas Traumann, compared the results to Biden’s 2020 victory, saying da Silva is inheriting an extremely divided nation.

“The huge challenge that Lula has will be to pacify the country”, he said. “On political matters people are not only polarized, but also have different values, identity and opinions. What’s more, they don’t care what the other side’s values, identities and opinions are.”

Congratulations for Lula and Brazil began to pour in from around the world Sunday evening, including from the U.S. President Joe Biden, who highlighted the country’s “free, fair, and credible elections.” 

The European Union also congratulated da Silva in a statement, commending the electoral authority for its effectiveness and transparency throughout the campaign.

Bolsonaro had been leading throughout the first half of the count and, as soon as da Silva overtook him, cars in the streets of downtown Sao Paulo began honking their horns. People in the streets of Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema neighborhood could be heard shouting, “It turned!”

Once the final result was announced Da Silva’s headquarters in downtown Sao Paulo hotel only erupted, underscoring the tension that was a hallmark of this race.

Gabriela Souto, one of the few supporters allowed in due to heavy security said “Four years waiting for this,”.

A woman atop a truck delivered a prayer over a speaker, then sang excitedly, trying to generate some energy, outside Bolsonaro’s home in Rio de Janeiro, ground-zero for his support base. 

But supporters decked out in the green and yellow of the flag barely responded. Many perked up when the national anthem played, with hands over their hearts singing along loudly.

Before the election da Silva gave most opinion polls, universally known as Lula, though political analysts agreed the race grew increasingly tight in recent weeks.

For months, it appeared that da Silva was headed for easy victory as he kindled nostalgia for his presidency, when Brazil’s economy was booming and welfare helped tens of millions join the middle class.

First-round elections with 48% of the vote but while da Silva topped the Oct. 2, at 43% Bolsonaro was a strong second, showing opinion polls significantly underestimated his popularity. 

He shored up support in an election year and with vast government spending many Brazilians support Bolsonaro’s defense of conservative social values.

Bolsonaro’s administration has been marked by incendiary speech, his testing of democratic institutions, his widely criticized handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in 15 years. 

By defending conservative values on personal liberties and producing economic turmoil he has built a devoted base and presented himself as protection from leftist policies that he says infringe.

Da Silva is credited with building an extensive social welfare program, during his 2003-2010 tenure that helped lift tens of millions into the middle class as well as presiding over an economic boom. 

With an approval rating above 80% the man universally known as Lula left office; then U.S. President Barack Obama called him “the most popular politician on Earth”. 

In vast corruption revealed by sprawling investigations he is also remembered for his administration’s involvement. Against Bolsonaro Da Silva’s arrest in 2018 kept him out of that year’s race, at the time a fringe lawmaker who was an outspoken fan of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

For corruption and money laundering Da Silva was jailed for 580 days. By Brazil’s top court his convictions were later annulled, which ruled the presiding judge had been biased and colluded with prosecutors. That enabled da Silva to run for the nation’s highest office for the sixth time.

For months, when the economy was booming and welfare helped tens of millions join the middle class, it appeared that he was headed for easy victory as he kindled nostalgia for his presidency. 

But results from an Oct. 2 first-round vote da Silva got 48% and Bolsonaro 43% showed opinion polls had significantly underestimated Bolsonaro’s resilience and popularity. He shored up support, in part, with vast government spending.

With foreign governments taking bold action to eliminate illegal clear-cutting in the Amazon rainforest Da Silva has pledged to boost spending on the poor, reestablish relationships.

On how he will achieve those goals he hasn’t provided specific plans, and faces many challenges. By strong opposition from conservative lawmakers the president-elect will be confronted, likely to take their cues from Bolsonaro.

Source:- https://livenewzus.com/lula-defeats-bolsonaro-to-again-become-brazils-president/

Login

Welcome to WriteUpCafe Community

Join our community to engage with fellow bloggers and increase the visibility of your blog.
Join WriteUpCafe