Brazil’s Lula da Silva returns to power after 12 years in wilderness

Veteran leader Lula da Silva is set to assume Brazil’s Presidency for the third time crowning a political career that has seen several ups and downs including feisty run-ins with the conservatives and the far-right.

Outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro has left for the United States ahead of oath taking after the Supreme Court threw out his petition questioning Lula’s victory in the tightly contested polls.

After assuming the presidency, the charismatic Lula, who had been imprisoned five years faces three key challenges.

First, he has to reboot a faltering post-covid economy without sharpening the rich-poor divide in his country.

Second, he has to fight the rampant destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Finally,  the president-elect faces the enormous task of ensuring political stability, which will be challenged by Bolsonaro’s followers who have the majority in parliament.

The Far-right has been seeking military intervention after Lula narrowly won the October 30 runoff election, 50.9% to 49.1%.

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