“Much more than the diploma ceremony of an elected president, this is the celebration of true democracy,” said the 77-year-old leftist leader, who already governed the South American giant between 2003 and 2010.
Lula received the certification together with his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, in a solemn ceremony at the headquarters of the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) in the capital Brasilia, in which former presidents such as his former dolphin Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016) participated.
“Rarely in the recent history of this country has democracy been so threatened, seldom (…) the popular will has been so put to the test and had to overcome all obstacles to finally be heard,” he said.
The president-elect had to interrupt his speech because he could not contain his tears, recalling its first certification ceremony in 2002 and the “daring of the Brazilian people” to elect a former metalworker without a university degree as president.
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With this diploma, the TSE symbolically certifies that Lula was elected in a fair process in the ballot contested on October 30, in which Bolsonaro prevailed (50.9% of the votes, compared to 40.1%).
Lula will take office on January 1, after which the new government will take office.
The president of the TSE, Alexandre de Moraes, affirmed for his part that the “electoral justice knew how to guarantee democratic stability, combating intense and criminal attacks on the pillars of the constitutional State.”
The certification definitively closes an electoral process marked by a polarized campaign full of attacks between Lula and Bolsonaro.
After the defeat, thousands of followers of the far-right leader blocked roads and demonstrated in front of military barracks asking for an intervention by the Armed Forces to prevent Lula’s inauguration.
Bolsonaro, for his part, broke 40 days of silence on Friday and pointed out that “it hurts in the soul” after the electoral defeat against Lula.
The entrance Lula cries as he is certified president-elect of Brazil for the third time was first published on newspaper TODAY.
