LULA'S COMEBACK AT THE HEAD OF BRAZIL

The gap between the two opponents is very short, in a country of 215 million inhabitants including nearly 156 million voters obliged to express themselves, voting being compulsory. The margin is much narrower than predicted by the polls, which had already underestimated Jair Bolsonaro's score before the first round. The gap, of less than two percentage points, is the tightest between two presidential finalists since the return to democracy after the military dictatorship (1964-1985)

Lula's victory was hailed by all the leaders of the world, relieved and somewhat astonished no doubt like the international press "by this incredible comeback of Lula", headlines the Guardian, "an extraordinary comeback for a man who was in prison for corruption another 3 years ago ”, underlines for its part the Wall Street Journal.

It is therefore a historic comeback for this 77-year-old former metalworker, who will begin his third term on January 1, 12 years after leaving power with record popularity (87%). But also after spending 580 days in prison, after convictions for corruption finally canceled for formal defect. “I was buried alive! “Launched the stainless icon of the left, who compared his victory to a” resurrection “.

Immediately after the official announcement of the results, Lula reacted in a tweet : "Democracy", with a photo of his left hand - of which he lost a finger during a work accident - on a Brazilian flag.

The city's main artery, Paulista Avenue, was crowded with people in an explosion of joy, waiting for Lula's arrival. When he spoke, the now elected president promised his supporters that “the wheel of the economy will start to turn again”.

"Brazil needs peace and unity," said Lula, adding that his country was "back" on the international stage and no longer wanted to be a "pariah". “Brazil and the planet need a living Amazon,” the left-wing icon added in his victory speech, as Jair Bolsonaro drew international criticism for the region’s record deforestation. largest rainforest in the world under his tenure.

The “re-democratization of Brazil is underway” still estimates the Brazilian daily which nevertheless measures the “enormous challenges” which await Lula for his 3rd term “while the country which he will lead in 2 months is on the verge of recession. , with galloping inflation, weak growth, a country on the verge of hunger and misery", details O'Globo like the Folha de Sao Paulo which adds to these economic difficulties "a congress in the hand of Bolsonarists in a fractured country.

"It's not just about saving the Amazon rainforest, and lifting 33 million Brazilians out of poverty" also insists the El Pais correspondent, "the task is even more difficult, Lula will have to convince the Brazilians of the need to join forces and begin a national reconstruction". “A titanic challenge”, estimates the Spanish daily.

Jair Bolsonaro still walled in silence

The silence of the outgoing head of state was disturbing, including on social networks, where he is usually very active. It is the first time that a Brazilian president has failed in his bid for re-election. “From January 1, I will govern for the 215 million Brazilian men and women, not just those who voted for me,” Lula said.

“Nobody wants to live in a divided country, in a state of perpetual war. This country needs peace and unity. (…) There are not two Brazils, we are one people, one nation”, insisted the icon of the left.

A strange silence according to O'Globo who notes "that this is the first time that a presidential candidate does not recognize his defeat on the same day". After the announcement of Lula's victory last night, "Jair Bolsonaro would have gone straight to bed," says the Brazilian daily, which believes "there is reasonable concern about the future reaction of the loser," Bolsonaro having prepared the ground "to contest a defeat with allegations of fraud for months", also underlines the Washington Post. The outgoing president has not yet reacted to the results. According to the daily Folha de São Paulo, since his defeat, Jair Bolsonaro has locked himself up alone with his son in the presidential palace, refusing to speak to his ministers by telephone and to receive them.

At the start of the campaign, he had threatened not to recognize the results, questioning in particular the electronic voting system. He then moderated his remarks as he went along, finally affirming that "the one who has the most votes wins, it's democracy".

“Will he accept defeat ? asks the New York Times as well. "The two and a half months remaining before the investiture of Lula next January promise to be tumultuous in any case", estimates for his part the correspondent of El Pais, who does not believe in a smooth transition while January "Bolsonaro retains all his presidential powers"

Systemic corruption

On the other hand, some of his relatives like Arthur Lira, president of the Chamber of Deputies, quickly recognized the defeat of their candidate. We must “reach out to our adversaries, debate, build bridges,” said Arthur Lira.

“There is a force of inertia in the Brazilian political system which has a formidable side, it is systemic corruption. But the advantage is that it guarantees a certain stability, ”explained this Monday morning Armelle Enders, professor of contemporary history at the University of Paris VIII. It is “decisive that Arthur Lira immediately recognized Lula's victory and offered to work with him. He had already worked with him, all these people who rallied to Bolsonaro worked including with Dilma Rousseff.

So they are magnetized by federal power and access to the public coffers. It may not be a good motivation, but it will ensure stability. »