Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was re‑elected to a fourth term on 2 November, announced on Thursday that he has cut back his public appearances for the week to recover his voice after the intensive campaign period. In an audio message sent to the WhatsApp group “Ejército de Lula,” which has 10.5 million followers, the 81‑year‑old leader said, “I have a very hoarse voice. This week I am reducing my activity until I recover my voice.” He added that he intends to address the nation next week, though he did not specify the topic. Lula’s public schedule has been sharply reduced since Sunday, when he won the second round of the presidential election with 52 % of the vote against the far‑right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who received 48 %. Since then, he has made telephone calls to several Latin American leaders who congratulated him and has met with ministers and allies at the Alvorada Palace, the official presidential residence in Brasília. On Tuesday, he celebrated his 81st birthday in front of a group of supporters, the only public event since the election. During the ceremony he spoke about the large mobilization of young and older voters that helped secure his re‑election and criticized Bolsonaro’s flight to the United States. Bolsonaro, whose whereabouts were unknown for a period, landed in Miami on Wednesday, and the circumstances of his trip are under police investigation. In the birthday address, Lula called Bolsonaro “the most dishonest person I have ever seen on Earth” and said, “He has no commitment to the truth. His shamelessness is impressive.” The former president’s victory is notable because no candidate who finished second in the first round has previously come back to win in the second round. Lula’s new term, his second consecutive one, will begin on 5 January.
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario