Lula launches Presidential campaign to ‘rebuild Brazil’

BRAZIL: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva launched his campaign for a new Presidential term on Saturday vowing to rebuild Brazil after what he called the “irresponsible and criminal” administration of far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.

The campaign launch sealed a remarkable political comeback for the 76-year-old leftist icon, four years after he was jailed on controversial corruption charges.

“We’re ready to work not only to win the election on October 2, but to rebuild and transform Brazil, which will be even more difficult,” the charismatic but tarnished steelworker-turned-politician told a rally in Sao Paulo. It was hardly a secret Lula, who has enjoyed a long – though shrinking – lead in the polls, would jump into the campaign, which does not officially start until August.

Lula, who led Brazil through an economic boom from 2003 to 2010, has been in unofficial campaign mode since March last year, when the Supreme Court annulled the corruption convictions that sidelined him from politics.

Lula left office 12 years ago with approval ratings of 87 per cent, after presiding over a golden period that lifted some 30 million Brazilians from poverty. – THE STRAITS TIMES