(AFP) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, said Sunday he was “in great shape” as he launched his candidacy for October elections, with pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration looming over the campaign. Lula, a leftist titan of Latin American politics who is loved and despised in near-equal measure in Brazil, highlighted what he called his stamina and good health as he addressed a convention of his Worker’s Party (PT) in Sao Paulo attended by around 3,000 people.
“I want to fight against old age. I don’t want to be shuffling along. That’s why I work out my legs. That’s why I work out my arms. That’s why I walk for an hour,” said the veteran leftist, adding he was far fitter than when he was first elected in 2002. The former metalworker and union leader made a dramatic comeback when he returned to power three years ago after a stint in jail on corruption charges that were later annulled. He is seeking a fourth and final term in office.
Brazil’s constitution allows presidents to serve two consecutive terms. After sitting out at least one term, they can run again, with no lifetime limit on the number of terms. In his speech to a crowd awash in red, the color of the PT, Lula compared himself to World Cup icons like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. “What people don’t realize is that this World Cup of mine is the seventh,” he said, referring to the number of times he has run for the top job in the past four decades.
Standing next to his wife, Rosangela da Silva, 59, he said he would not run again, because “after we hand Brazil back to the Brazilian people in perfect shape — we’re going on vacation to focus on romance for another 20 years.” Lula’s main election rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, eldest son of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. The 45-year-old senator stepped into the role after his father was convicted of plotting a coup to prevent Lula from taking power in 2023.
– Trump looms – The Bolsonaro family is allied with Trump, who has backed several victorious right-wing candidates in Latin America. “In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong,” said Lula. In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian goods, alleging unfair trade practices which Brasilia denies. Last year, encouraged by another of Jair Bolsonaro’s sons, Eduardo, Washington hiked tariffs in retaliation for the trial against the former leader. These were largely lifted after diplomatic efforts.
Staring down a renewed trade war, Lula has built his strategy around defending Brazilian sovereignty and reminding voters of his four decades as the country’s most consequential political figure. He has derided Flavio Bolsonaro as a “traitor to the nation.” “The sovereignty message comes at the perfect time for Lula. It allows him to identify an external enemy to blame for some of the problems we are facing,” Leonardo Paz, a political science professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, told AFP.
A recent survey by the Datafolha institute showed that 48 percent of those polled would vote for Lula in a second round and 43 percent for Flavio Bolsonaro. In 2022, Lula beat Jair Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin. Supporters praise Lula’s anti-poverty and social programs. “I’m here today because Lula’s policies changed my life and my family’s. Thanks to him, we own our own home today,” Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker, told AFP.
The veteran leftist’s administration boasts solid economic growth and record employment levels. But families complain about the cost of living and the fiscal deficit is worsening. Brazilians are also extremely concerned by security and corruption.
– Facundo Fernández Barrio
© 2024 AFP
