Brazil: Lula de Sil "They tried to bury me alive"

AreaRead the video transcript expand here

A cheer of relief went through the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday evening.

The socialist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva becomes Brazilian head of state.

He defeated the incumbent president, the right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro, extremely narrowly with 50.9 percent of the vote.

Bolsonaro came to 49.1 percent.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Salva, winner of the Brazilian presidential elections:

»This is the country that is the third largest food supplier in the world.

What is missing is the shame of those who rule this country.

I promise you all again: I have many commitments, many tasks.

But the most important is the guarantee that every child, every woman, every teenager and every man can have coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner and the necessary calories every day.«

It is a victory for democracy beyond ideologies or party interests, because it means more social integration and opportunities for everyone again, emphasized election winner Lula to his supporters in Sao Paulo.

They celebrated the outcome of the election in red T-shirts from the left-wing workers' party and formed an L with their fingers.

Lula was previously jailed for corruption and money laundering, but the Supreme Court overturned the conviction, allowing him to run again.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Salva, winner of the Brazilian presidential elections:

»They tried to bury me alive.

Now I am here to rule the country in a very difficult situation.

But I believe that with the help of the people we will find a way to make this country democratic and peaceful again.

So that we can support parents and families and build the world that Brazil needs.«

Supporters of incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro prayed and cried in the capital, Brasilia.

Bolsonaro himself has not yet commented on the outcome of the election.

In the run-up, he had repeatedly questioned the electoral system and announced that he might not want to recognize the result.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Salva, winner of the Brazilian presidential elections:

»The defeated president should have called me to acknowledge my victory.

So far he hasn't called.

I don't know if he'll do it, if he'll give in."

Enormous challenges await 77-year-old Lula in his third term after his first election victory 20 years ago.

He wants to reconcile the deeply divided country, fight poverty with state-sponsored economic growth and stop the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

His swearing-in is scheduled for January 1, 2023.