Brazil: Lula officially sworn in as president for the third time

A historic and tense day.

At 77, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was proclaimed president of the large emerging country of 215 million inhabitants, 12 years after leaving power after two terms (2003-2010).

Several tens of thousands of Lula sympathizers dressed in red invaded the center of Brasilia on Sunday, hours before the historic leader of the left was proclaimed president of Brazil for the third time.

The investiture ceremonies, placed under tight security, were snubbed by outgoing head of state Jair Bolsonaro, who left Brazil two days before the end of his term.

He therefore did not hand over the presidential sash to his successor as required by democratic tradition, which has not happened since 1985 and the end of the military regime.

Reclusive and almost silent since his defeat in October, Bolsonaro, who loses his presidential immunity, left Brazil for Florida on Friday.

While his most radical followers want to prevent Lula's accession to power and are still camped outside barracks in the country, demanding military intervention, security has been tightened.

All the police forces of the district of Brasilia, some 8,000 agents, are mobilized, as well as a thousand federal police officers.

Up to 300,000 people were expected for this day to combine the pomp, with ceremonies regulated to the millimeter to which 17 heads of state must attend, and a popular festival with concerts.

The number of people who can attend Lula's speech outside Planalto Palace has been limited to 30,000.

>>> More information to come…