1/1/23

By Aditi Jha

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as the new president of Brazil on Sunday. In a speech, he promised to "rebuild the nation and make a Brazil of all, for all." He plans to change previous policies implemented by his predecessor, former president Jair Bolsonaro, by prioritizing education, health and the conservation of the Amazon rainforest, as well as by revoking the gun laws that Bolsonaro had put in place. He intends to reach "zero deforestation" in the Amazon by 2030 and investigate Bolsonaro's COVID policies which he claimed caused a "genocide" during the pandemic. Lula would have been presented with the presidential sash during the inauguration by former president Bolsonaro but Bolsonaro had flown to Florida on Friday and is staying for at least a month. He had refused to concede the election, alleging without evidence that it was stolen, but on Friday said that he did try to block Lula from taking office, saying "within the laws, respecting the Constitution, I searched for a way out of this. We live in a democracy or we don't. No one wants an adventure." There are current investigations taking place into his release of classified documents, his attacks on voting machines and his spread of misinformation. Lula told Congress that "We have no intention of revenge against those who tried to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological plans, but we will guarantee the rule of law. Those who have done wrong will answer for their mistakes." Instead of Bolsonaro, it was announced that the sash would be given by "the Brazilian people." Aline Sousa, a 33-year-old garbage collector, put the sash on Lula. Lula said in ann address to Congress that the democracy of Brazil had been threatened by Bolsonaro. "Under the winds of democratization new used to say, 'Dictatorship never again.' Today, after the terrible challenge we've overcome, we must say. 'Democracy forever.'" Lula was Brazil's most popular president, and when he left office his approval rating was above 80 percent. He served 580 days in prison under corruption charges that were later dropped due to judge bias.

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