President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) was certified this Monday (12) by the TSE (Supreme Electoral Court) with a speech praising democracy and the firmness of the Judiciary in defending the electoral process and the promise to guarantee institutional normality after the end of the Jair Bolsonaro's (PL) government. In tears, Lula dedicated the diploma of president-elect to the Brazilian people. He mentioned God and said that he will make every effort to fulfill the commitment of "making Brazil a more developed and fairer country".
"I want to apologize to you for the emotion, because for someone who went through what I went through in my last years, being here now is proof that God exists. I know how much it cost, not just me, but the Brazilian people, this wait to win back democracy in this country", said Lula, before starting to read the speech previously prepared for the occasion.
The PT member was imprisoned for 580 days before having his Lava Jato ( car wash operation) convictions annulled. He and the vice-president-elect, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), received their diplomas this Monday – signed by the president of the TSE ( Supreme Electoral Court), Justice Alexandre de Moraes – confirming that they are able to take office on January 1, 2023.
Translated by Cassy Dias