Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Profession: President of Brazil

Nationality:

Biography: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, better known simply as Lula, is a Brazilian politician who returned to office for a second term as President of Brazil after defeating Jair Bolsonaro. Lula is renowned as a staunch left-wing politician and member of the Workers' Party, of which he was president from 2003 to 2010.

While Lula was very popular both within Brazil and internationally during his first presidency, his tenure was marred by various scandals. After his time as president, he was later convicted of money laundering and corruption in a trial which was subsequently nullified. These convictions prevented him from running against Bolsonaro in the 2018 election.

After the convictions were nullified in 2021, Lula returned to politics and ran against Bolsonaro in the 2022 elections. He went on to win the election, making him the first Brazilian president to be elected for a third term as well as the first to defeat an incumbent president in an election.

Born: October 27, 1945
Birthplace: Caetés, Pernambuco, Brazil
Age: 78 years old

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Scorpio

Historical Events

2006-10-29 Lula da Silva is elected President of Brazil defeating Geraldo Alckmin in the second round
2016-03-17 Brazilian federal judge blocks swearing-in of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as Chief of Staff to President Dilma Rousseff, as part of "Car Wash" controversy
2018-09-11 Imprisoned Brazilian Ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva abandons his presidential campaign
2022-10-30 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is elected President of Brazil for a third term after a tight run-off race against sitting President Jair Bolsonaro
2023-01-01 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is sworn in as the 39th President of Brazil, his third term in office
2023-04-28 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decrees six new indigenous reserves covering 620,000 hectares (1.5m acres), with bans on mining and restrictions on commercial farming

Biographies and Sources

Brazil's Lula recognises six new indigenous reserves - BBC News
Lula da Silva will return to Brazil’s presidency in stunning comeback - CNN