Lula's re-election: what does it mean for the world?
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has narrowly won the presidential election in Brazil. His victory against Flávio Bolsonaro is making waves across the globe. How will Lula's fourth non-consecutive term impact relations with the US, Europe and China? And what does his re-election mean for global climate action? The international press sizes up Brazil's future role in global politics.
No rapprochement with the US
SRF's Latin America correspondent Karen Naundorf comments:
“Internationally, Lula's re-election sends an important political signal – and is a setback for Donald Trump. With Flávio Bolsonaro at the helm of Latin America's largest economy he would have gained a close political ally. But under Lula, Brazil is likely to continue pursuing its independent foreign policy course, with close economic ties to China. And Lula also announced stricter regulation of the major tech platforms in the first speech he gave after the election.”
Keeping its distance from Europe
Lula's victory cannot be considered a win for the global "democratic" camp, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung counters:
“Even under this president, Brazil has always been an active member of the Brics group, an alliance that Beijing and Moscow are increasingly seeking to position as anti-Western. China remains an influential (trading) partner, as it is in so many Latin American countries. Regarding Ukraine in particular, Lula has given the Europeans a cold shoulder. And there's little reason to believe that will change in the foreseeable future.”
Everyone wins
The whole world stands to gain from Lula's victory against Bolsonaro, who was backed by climate denier Donald Trump, argues Aftonbladet:
“Now the world's largest rainforest will not fall into the hands of a right-wing nationalist with close ties to Trump. During Lula's time in office deforestation has already fallen to a record low. This is crucial if we are to tackle the climate crisis, particularly now that the UN has announced that the 1.5-degree target is unattainable. Lula's victory is nothing short of a win for the world.”
No answers to key questions
Jan Heidtmann, the Süddeutsche Zeitung's Latin America correspondent, wonders what the winner of the election still has to offer for Brazil:
“Although the president and his supporters have once again mobilised all their forces, in terms of substance they have reached a dead end. Despite decades in power they have failed to find convincing solutions to the most pressing problems facing Brazilians: rampant crime, corruption reaching up to the highest echelons of politics, and the high levels of debt burdening many individuals. ... They must develop – while keeping the country functional – what da Silva's campaign lacked from the outset: a convincing and well-founded narrative explaining why a political veteran like Lula da Silva of all people should represent Brazil's future.”
The last bastion
La Repubblica paints an enthusiastic portrait of the victor:
“What an epic story the life and career of Luis Inácio Lula da Silva is. He is the last great bastion of the South American left. ... This time, democracy itself was at stake. And after being defeated in the first round he has risen again. He is the first president to have won a fourth term in office. Trade unionism, the founding of the Partido dos Trabalhadores, the election, the corruption allegations, his imprisonment, his re-election, his illness and the attempted coup against him: these are the cornerstones of a story that has never ceased to fascinate and inspire, but has also divided: in Brazil, you either love him or hate him. And last night, love prevailed once again.”
Left-wing policies not enforceable nationwide
Lula's winning the elections won't necessarily translate into left-wing policies, Politiken explains:
“Lula's victory by no means implies that politics and the fierce battle over values in Brazil will shift to the left over the next four years. The right has, in fact, gained significant ground in the national parliament and in the federal states. The majority in the national parliament is centre-right. ... In the federal states that encompass the Amazon rainforest, there are now more governors from the right than before, and they are more focused on helping farmers, landowners and mining companies than on enforcing environmental regulations.”