At 80, Brazil's President Lula Seeks Fourth Term
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced his candidacy for re-election in the October polls. Lula, who is running for a fourth term at the age of 80, insisted he is in ‘prime condition’.
Lula’s decision to run again was announced on Sunday local time, as pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump looms over his campaign. A major figure of the Latin American left, Lula is seeking a fourth and final term, with his campaign positioning him as a reliable leader in turbulent times and a bulwark against the global rise of the far-right.
Although Trump was not mentioned by name at the Workers’ Party (PT) convention in Sao Paulo, Lula and other prominent left-wing figures heavily emphasised the theme of protecting Brazil’s sovereignty from external threats, amid trade and diplomatic disputes with the US. ‘I want to prepare so that no one invades this country,’ Lula said in his convention speech, calling for increased investment in defence.
Lula, a former metalworker and union leader, made a dramatic comeback to power three years ago after a series of corruption convictions were overturned, following his earlier presidency from 2003 to 2010. In his speech, Lula asserted that stamina and an exercise routine have kept his physical condition ‘in prime shape’. ‘I want to fight ageing. I don’t want to walk with a shuffle,’ he said.
Brazil’s constitution allows a president to serve two consecutive terms. After a break, they can run again, with no lifetime limit on the number of terms. Lula added that he would not run for president again after a fourth term, as he and his wife, Rosangela, 59, plan to ‘go on holiday to focus on their romance for the next 20 years’.
Lula is a figure who inspires both deep affection and strong dislike in almost equal measure in Brazil, and he won his last election by a very narrow margin against his rival, former President Jair Bolsonaro. In the upcoming election, Lula will face Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, who has taken up the mantle after his father was found guilty by a court of plotting a coup. The Bolsonaro family is allied with Trump, who has recently backed right-wing candidates winning elections in Latin America.