Who is Lula da Silva?

Lula da Silva

About Lula da Silva

Who is Lula da Silva?

Brazil's Lula da Silva on October 30, 2022, returned to become the new president of the country after narrowly defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. According to Brazil's Election Authority, Lula earned 50.8 per cent votes in the tight race against Bolsonaro, who won 49.2 per cent votes.?


Lula last served as the Brazilian president from 2003-2010.
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Early life and education


Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was born on October 27, 1945, to a family of illiterate farmers in Pernambuco and grew up in deep poverty. At the age of seven, he alongside his family migrated to the industrial heartland of Sao Paulo.


Lula did not know how to read until the age of 10, and he quit school after second grade to work and help his family.?


At the age of 12, Lula started to work as a shoeshine boy, and street vendor and became a metalworker at 14. The left-wing politician lost a finger at the age of 19 in the 1960s in a workplace accident.?


Political career


Lula started his career as a metalworker and trade unionist, the politician became the head of his trade union and led major workers' strikes between 1978 and 1980, during the military dictatorship in Brazil.?


1980, during Brazil's political opening, he co-founded the Workers' Party. He was also one of the main leaders of the 'Diretas Ja' movement in 1984, a civil unrest movement, which demanded direct presidential elections in Brazil.


In 1986, he was elected the federal deputy of Sao Paulo with the most votes nationwide.?


Lula ran for president for the first time in 1989 and lost to Fernando Collor de Mello. He ran for the post two more times, in 1994 and 1998, and lost both times to Fernando Henrique Cardoso in the first round.?


The socialist leader won the 2002 Brazil presidential election. He was re-elected as the nation's president in 2006 and served the post till 2010.??


Brazil's child malnutrition decreased by 46 per cent during Lula's first term. During his presidential tenure, Lula is credited for building an extensive social welfare programme that lifted tens of millions into the middle class.?


In 2018, Lula was imprisoned over a corruption scandal that sidelined him from that year's election, which eventually paved the way for then-candidate Bolsonaro's win. He was in jail for 580 days for corruption and money laundering.?


Lula's victory marks the first time since Brazil's 1985 return to democracy that the sitting president has failed to win reelection. The socialist leader will be inaugurated as the president on January 1, 2023.?

Latest Updates on Lula da Silva

Bolsonaro supporters stage demonstration to defend him amid investigations

4 min read Last Updated :Feb 26 2024 | 7:40 AM IST
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Netanyahu slams Brazilian president's comparison of Gaza war to Holocaust

3 min read Last Updated :Feb 19 2024 | 7:29 AM IST
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A yr after pro-Bolsonaro riots, dozens of arrests, Brazil still recovering

5 min read Last Updated :Jan 08 2024 | 7:41 AM IST
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Brazil's economy improves during Prez Lula's first yr back, divide remains

6 min read Last Updated :Jan 02 2024 | 11:57 AM IST
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PM Modi, Brazilian Prez share concerns on situation in West Asia over call

2 min read Last Updated :Nov 10 2023 | 9:41 PM IST
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Brazil to militarise key airports, borders in crackdown on organised crime

3 min read Last Updated :Nov 02 2023 | 2:10 PM IST
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Brazil's Lula pitches nation and himself as fresh leader for Global south

6 min read Last Updated :Sep 19 2023 | 1:05 PM IST
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Lula da Silva backs off pledge Vladimir Putin won't be arrested on visit

1 min read Last Updated :Sep 11 2023 | 10:03 PM IST
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No way Putin will be arrested if he attends Rio G20 meet: Brazil Prez

2 min read Last Updated :Sep 10 2023 | 12:25 PM IST
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PM Modi gifts 'surahi' to Ramaphosa, Gond painting to Lula da Silva

2 min read Last Updated :Aug 25 2023 | 10:33 AM IST
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Brazil's Lula unveils $200 bn infra plan as sceptics warn on spending spree

4 min read Last Updated :Aug 12 2023 | 7:43 AM IST
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Brazil's Lula welcomes back Venezuelan Prez for first time after ban

2 min read Last Updated :May 30 2023 | 10:50 AM IST
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Brazil's Amazon megaprojects threaten President Lula's green ambitions

7 min read Last Updated :May 07 2023 | 9:05 PM IST
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President Lula meets with indigenous in Brazil's Amazon, pledges lands

4 min read Last Updated :Mar 14 2023 | 11:36 AM IST
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Lula promises public works in Brazil to create jobs, boost economy

1 min read Last Updated :Mar 11 2023 | 2:47 PM IST
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Brazil's minimum monthly wage to rise from May, says Prez Lula da Silva

1 min read Last Updated :Feb 17 2023 | 7:22 AM IST
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President Biden, Lula to put focus on democracy, climate during visit

5 min read Last Updated :Feb 10 2023 | 6:12 PM IST
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Brazilian president Lula to meet Joe Biden at White House next month

1 min read Last Updated :Jan 21 2023 | 9:19 AM IST
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US redux in Brazil: Far-right rioters storm Congress, president palace, SC

3 min read Last Updated :Jan 10 2023 | 12:08 AM IST
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Pro-Bolsonaro rioters storm top govt offices, Supreme Court in Brazil

4 min read Last Updated :Jan 09 2023 | 6:30 AM IST
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