BRAZIL: Brazil closes out its second-round presidential election with an easy win for Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised on Sunday (October 29) to continue his focus on the poor as he launches his new administration after winning re-election on Sunday (October 29). Lula, a former union leader, swept up about 61 percent of the vote in a run-off election against 39 percent for his rival Geraldo Alckmin of the centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party, according to official results. In a victory address, the bearded Lula promised to take care of the poor people whose support helped carry him to a re-election. He promised to govern Brazil for everyone but said: "The poor will have preference in our government." He sounded ready to move past the election and onto the business of governing. "The election is over. Now, there is no more adversary. The adversaries now are the social injustices that we have in Brazil and that we need to combat. The adversaries now are ourselves, who have to come together to make Brazil grow, to strengthen Brazil, not just internally, but to strengthen Brazil in the world," he said. Lula won despite being dogged by corruption scandals involving his Worker's Party which gave ammunition to his opponents and forced the election to a second round. The acrimonious campaign behind him, he now faces the challenge of reuniting a country, forging a coalition to push through business-friendly reforms, and tackling a host of social problems including awful levels of violent crime. About 125 million Brazilians cast ballots across the world's fourth-largest democracy, from hamlets in the Amazon rainforest to the concrete jungle and slums of the big cities. The victory also has repercussions beyond Brazil's borders. Lula has acted a spokesman for developing nations and has defended their interests strongly, most notably in the World Trade Organisation's Doha round of trade talks. He is also seen in Washington as a moderate leftist alternative to Venezuela's militant President Hugo Chavez. Lula, 61, already spoke like a winner when he turned up to vote in the factory town of Sao Bernardo do Campo, where he began in politics as a union leader opposing a military dictatorship. He promised to open a dialogue with the opposition. The scandals over vote-buying and bribery had threatened to torpedo Lula's political career little over a year ago. But voters said violent crime, education and heath costs were all vital issues. Lula has won plaudits for stabilizing the economy of Latin America's largest country but the growth needed to overcome its social inequalities and to maintain its challenge to emerging market rivals India and China is still elusive.

ITN Source | October 30, 2006

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