On the 1st of January 2023, Lula was sworn in as Brazil’s President, starting his third mandate. Approximately 300’000 people participated in the inauguration in Brasília and at least 65 international delegations attended the ceremony.

Lula is a popular and charismatic leader, a talented diplomat, who proved to be careful about social instances, indigenous rights and environmental protection. These aspects have allowed him to gain an international and regional reputation, and the reactions to his inauguration have been positive internationally and regionally.

U.S. President Joe Biden quickly congratulated Lula for his victory in Brazil’s “free, fair and credible elections,” saying in a White House statement that he looked forward to cooperation between the two countries. The welcoming from Biden could reopen the relations between the two countries, which were made more fragile during Bolsonaro’s presidency, particularly regarding biodiversity conservation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he hopes to work with Lula to advance shared interests, including protecting the environment.

Welcoming messages are also coming from the other side of the Atlantic. European leaders such as Macron, Spain’s PM Sanches, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have greeted the new Brazilian leader. Welcoming messages have also arrived from the EU, including Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borell Fontelles, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who tweeted “Parabens @LulaOficial on your election! I look forward to working together and advancing EU-Brazil relations with your government, and with new Congress & State authorities.” The UK’s PM Sunak has also welcomed the inauguration of Lula, on Twitter and by phone.

Regionally, Latin American leftist governments have also greeted the new coming president. Leaders of Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru and Argentina have welcomed Lula with short tweets and messages. The recent rise of leftist governments in Latin America can create momentum for future regional cooperation and could reinvigorate efforts to tackle some of the most pressing issues in the region, such as the Venezuelan political stand off and curb political repression by Ortega’s government in Nicaragua.

Salutations have also arrived from the Kremlin, stating: “The voting results confirmed your high political authority. I hope that by joint efforts, we will ensure the further development of constructive Russian-Brazilian cooperation in all areas.” Russia also sent the speaker of Russia's Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, to the inauguration. The Russian welcoming shows the two countries’ openness to collaborate and Lula’s inclination to multilateralism.  

Regarding China, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian confirmed his readiness to work with the new Brazilian government led by Lula to take the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and better benefit the two countries and two peoples. There is a willingness in China to continue its foreign investments and development policies in Brazil, following patterns that have interested several other Latin American governments.

During the day of his inauguration and the following ones, Lula has followed a tight schedule of individual meetings with heads of governments, ministers, and special envoys, reflecting Brazil’s desire to assume a more significant role in the international and regional stage, fostering multilateralism and bilateral cooperation.

*article photo taken by Ricardo Stuckert.