Lula: “My victory is a defeat for lies and denialism”

The re-elected president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, stated on Sunday night that his victory is a “defeat of lies and denialism,” after winning with 51.79% of the votes against 48.21% for his rival Flávio Bolsonaro in the second round of the elections.

Lula celebrated the unprecedented comeback during an appearance at a hotel in the city of São Paulo, accompanied by his wife Janja da Silva, the re-elected vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and other allies.

“I am going to have the best term that a president has ever had in this country,” he declared, amidst applause and cheers from those gathered.

At the same time, the progressive leader accused Flávio Bolsonaro of lying with “shamelessness” and of not having “a single cell of humanism.”

“It all seems fake,” he stated about his opponent, with whom he held two tense televised debates in the last week.

The leader of the Workers’ Party (PT) welcomed the reduction in abstention compared to the first round three weeks ago, in which he finished second behind the far-right senator.

Recognize the work of young people for democracy

Likewise, he thanked the young people for having taken to the streets “to defend democracy,” as well as the elderly for having gone to vote.

“I can guarantee that we are going to change the way this country is governed,” he declared, before stating that communication on social media, which was key to the comeback, will occupy a “very large space” in his next term, which will begin on January 5th.

Looking ahead to the next four years, Lula promised to protect religious freedom, combat gender-based violence, continue investments in education and healthcare, and pursue the policy of curbing deforestation.

Regarding the strengthening of the right wing in Congress, the president pledged to “work” with parliamentarians to pass the Government’s bills.

Brazil is “nobody’s backyard”

On a geopolitical level, he stated that Brazil “does not accept being anyone’s backyard,” in reference to U.S. pressures, and expressed his desire for the country to be “central” and not “peripheral” in global discussions.

He also accused social media platforms, which have been questioned for limiting the reach of his campaign posts, of “interference” in the electoral process and said that they will have to be “regulated.”

“Crime in the digital world must be treated the same as crime in real life,” he asserted.