It is now official: Lula is the new president of Brazil as of first January 2023. After a very tight election, Brazil encountered resistance from pro- Bolsonaro electors that protested the results blocking federal roads. The protests lasted approximately a month [1]. However, other electors decided to take a different path to contest the election results and ask for military intervention. Camped outside military facilities all over the country they ask the Forces to take the Estate [1]. However, since last Sunday (11) the country has made the election results official, and Lula had his third diplomation ceremony in the country. A heart touching moment for democracy.

The mandate of Brazil’s new president, Lula, has not even begun and the international reaction was unanimously cheerful. Actively present on social media, right after the elections, Lula shared with his voters on Instagram the various messages that arrived from governments all around the world, such as Alberto Fernández, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden [2].  And the international support for the new president will be a key in the country’s new environmental agenda.

Fig 1: Lula’s caricature from @sharpon_eco

By attending the COP27, Lula legitimized his interest in the preservation of the Amazon as well as in the protection of indigenous peoples. Moreover, he stressed that with his victory also “the commitment to confront climate change with determination” [3]. In his speech, the president highlighted the world’s hurry to find solutions for our planet that is being exhausted every day, and the importance of the countries to unite among themselves otherwise we are doomed to fail.
While Lula awaits his inauguration, his transition team worked to ensure that he takes office knowing all the information about the Federal Government, the Public Administration, ongoing projects and programs, and other issues. The members of the team were selected by the elected president and were responsible for working on specific themes of the government. A notable difference between the transition team of the current government and the future one was precisely the presence of the Technical Group for the Environment [4]. The composition of the team also brightened the mood. With several academic and environmentalist members, hope has also returned to those who are seriously dedicated to environmental causes in Brazil.  

Related articles:

References:

[1] CNN. Comandantes das Forças Armadas cobram ação de Bolsonaro para conter atos em frente a quartéis. Retrieved on 14 December 2022. https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/comandantes-das-forcas-armadas-cobram-acao-de-bolsonaro-para-conter-atos-em-frente-a-quarteis/
[2] Jornal Nacional. Lula receives the president of Argentina the day after winning the election. Retrieved on 05 December 2022 from https://g1.globo.com/jornal-nacional/noticia/2022/10/31/lula-recebe-o-presidente-da-argentina-no-dia-seguinte-a-vitoria-na-eleicao.ghtml
[3] Radio BandNews FM. Lula’s speech at the COP27 on 16 november 2022. Retrieved on 05 December 2022 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZoBe4TiBFo&t=425s
[4] Gabinete da Transição. Grupos Técnicos. Retrieved on 05 December 2022, from https://gabinetedatransicao.com.br/noticias/gabinete-de-transicao-alckmin-anuncia-integrantes-de-mais-16-grupos-tecnicos/

Cover- and preview image: Seat of the federal government of Brazil. Brasília, July 4, 2021. Free-source photo by Ramon Buçard on https://unsplash.com/photos/z8O3ew_jn0w