Brazil: Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will take the oath of office today under increased security in the nation’s capital as a result of threats of violence made by followers of his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. After a break during which he was imprisoned for an additional year and a half on corruption convictions that were eventually reversed, Lula, 77, narrowly defeated Bolsonaro to win an extraordinary third presidential term in October.
The former union leader helped millions of Brazilians escape poverty during his time as president of the Workers Party (PT) from 2003 to 2010, when commodities were in a boom and the economy was strengthened. He now has the difficult task of unifying the nation while reviving Brazil’s sluggish economy.
Bolsonaro had left Brazil for Florida on Friday to avoid having to concede victory to his competitor, whose triumph he has not yet acknowledged. Since the election was allegedly rigged two months ago, Lula’s supporters have been calling for a military takeover to prevent him from taking power again in the midst of violence and vandalism.