In Brazil, a power shift from right to left will take place at the beginning of 2023. In the presidential election, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (77) defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro (67) with 50.9 to 49.1 percent of the vote. Bolsonaro is also known as the “Trump of South America” because of his politics.
A familiar face returns with “Lula”: the former trade unionist ruled Brazil from early 2003 to late 2010. He is Brazil’s first democratically elected president for a third term.
Many supporters associate Lula with Brazil’s golden age, when the economy boomed due to high commodity prices and the government lifted millions of people out of abject poverty through social programs. For his opponents, however, Lula is responsible for corruption and favoritism.
• Surface: 8’515’770 km² (Switzerland: 41’285 km²)
• Residents: 215 million (Switzerland: 8.7 million)
• GDP per capita: $6823 (Switzerland: $93’457)
• Language: Portuguese
• Capital city: Brazil
• Independence: 1822 (of Portugal)
• Currency: Real
* Nominal gross domestic product
In July 2017, Lula was sentenced to 12 years in prison for corruption and money laundering. After 580 days in prison, the sentences were quashed because the court that pronounced the sentence lacked jurisdiction and the judge was biased.
What’s next in Brazil? Blick answers the most important questions.
What is Brazil’s reaction to Lula’s victory?
Many Bolsonaro supporters are angry and have met for rallies. They talk about “false elections” and refuse to accept the result. Her tenor: If Bolsonaro calls us to protest, we will follow him.
The first riots have already started. A 27-year-old man was shot dead by Lula supporters during celebrations, and there were also injuries. “Hopefully the army stays out,” Johannes Kabatek (57), a Brazil expert at the University of Zurich, told Blick.
Will the “Trump of South America” accept his defeat?
So far, Bolsonaro has not commented on the election results, saying he went to bed shortly after 10 p.m. on election day. In the run-up to the elections, he repeatedly criticized the electoral system and left open whether he would accept the election results. However, Parliament Speaker Artur Lira (53), an ally of Bolsonaro, asked the Brazilians to accept the majority’s decision.
How corrupt is Lula?
“It has not yet been proven that he was corrupt,” Kabatek said. Lula fought for years in the opposition with few resources and great idealism and is not your typical corrupt politician – he does not live in luxury, nor does he have an arguably large fortune.
Although he allowed corruption and favoritism in his environment. Kabatek: “It is foreseeable that this will return to some extent, but certainly to a much lesser extent than with Bolsonaro, where family, friendship, etc. were the main criteria in selecting the environment.”
What does the new president promise?
Johannes Kabatek describes Lula as a “clever and tactically effective politician” who, during his earlier reign, made wealth in Brazil accessible to the poorer classes. Kabatek: “He will try to stop or reverse some of Bolsonaro’s catastrophic policies.” These include the destruction of the jungle, anti-democratic behavior and the glorification of violence.
Will Lula be a good president?
Like the US, Brazil is deeply divided. Lula has announced to the Brazilians to be a president for all and to fill the ditch. His critics fear a situation like that in Venezuela, where the authoritarian left-wing government led the country again into state bankruptcy in 2017 with nationalizations and the exploitation of natural resources. However, Kabatek thinks the fear of “Venezuelanization” is exaggerated.
How does the world react?
There is relief in the western world. US President Joe Biden (79) congratulated and emphasized that the vote was “free, fair and credible”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) tweeted that he is looking forward to “a close and trusting cooperation”. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (41) said that “the elections in Brazil have one winner, but several winners”. Another big winner is the global climate, Baerbock said.
Will Brazil now become a new partner for Europe?
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and already maintains close cooperation with Europe. “It is very important for Europe to have a strong and prosperous Brazil as a partner – especially in the current situation,” says Kabatek. He assumes that the relationship will now intensify further.
Will Switzerland intensify cooperation with Brazil?
“Switzerland has long had good relations with Brazil, which it wants to continue and develop with the new Brazilian government,” the FDFA replies to Blick’s question. Kabatek explains: “Switzerland is about an important economic partner and raw material supplier.”
Will Lula end cooperation with Russia?
The two countries belong to the Brics states, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Sanctions against Russia are therefore not supported. Kabatek’s review: “Lula will likely move away from Russia and look closer to Europe – but he will also strengthen new connections within Latin America.”
Who will succeed Lula later?
Lula has been mistreated in the past and the election is very personal. Therefore, according to Kabatek, it is already a matter of building a successor and “serious alternative to the far-right Bolsonaro”. Kabatek: “Brazil has been politically derailed so to speak in recent years, but it may be just in time to find a return to a stable democratic culture.”
Guido fields
Source: Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
