OPINION PIECE

by Tim Louis - CoDev Board Directors

As a longtime follower of Latin American politics and a supporter of progressive movements, I cannot say enough about how inspired I am by the current president of Brazil, Lula da Silva.

Lula, as he is fondly known, begins his career as one of the most effective trade union leaders ever to emerge in Latin America. He helps to co-found the Workers’ Party and runs for president every four years, losing time and time again, until he is finally elected in 2002. His economic reforms lift millions of Brazilians out of poverty, and he leaves office with a higher approval rating than any other head of state in the world. His successor, Dilma Rousseff, follows in his footsteps, but extreme right-wing actors succeed in having her impeached and removed from office even though they do not allege any impeachable offense.

These same right-wing actors arrange to have Lula charged with corruption. It is alleged that he received an apartment in return for the awarding of a contract. Throughout the trial, there was no evidence presented supporting the criminal charge, and, in fact, the title to the apartment was not even registered in Lula’s name. Nevertheless, he is convicted and sentenced to prison.

With Lula out of the way, Jair Bolsonaro, a fan of the earlier military dictatorships, runs for president and is elected. Opinion polls at the time had Lula far ahead of Bolsonaro, but now in prison, he was not permitted to be a candidate.

A worldwide campaign, supported by many, including Noam Chomsky, to free Lula from prison is eventually successful. It comes to light that the presiding judge in his trial would secretly meet with the prosecutor in the evening after every day of trial. The prosecutor and the judge would discuss their plans for the following day’s court proceedings. Lula’s lawyers bring this stunning revelation to the court of appeal which immediately orders his release from prison.

Freed from prison, Lula thwarts Bolsonaro’s bid to be re-elected when his first term comes to an end.

Lula has demonstrated to the world that it is possible to defeat highly organized reactionary forces no matter what the obstacles. He provides us all with an example to inspire and motivate us in our lifelong struggles to make the world a better world.”

Lula returned to office in January of 2023 at the age of 77!