Heads of state and government such as Macron, Sunak, Trudeau, Boric and Maduro hail the president for his progressive agenda and focus on the climate issue and say they hope to strengthen partnerships with Brazil and the president’s regional integration. Brazil this Sunday (02/01). Among those protesting were the presidents of France, Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, and several South American heads of state.

The leader of France congratulated Lula on his inauguration for a third term in a message written in Portuguese and another in French on Twitter. “Order and Progress: Brazil honors its motto. Congratulations, dear president, dear friend Lula, on your investiture. We are together ! “wrote Macron, in a post that included a photo of a meeting between them in November 2021, when Lula was received with the honors of the head of state in Paris.

On behalf of the French government, Deputy Foreign Trade Minister Olivier Becht traveled to Brazil to attend the inauguration and delivered Lula a letter from the French president.

The British Prime Minister also took to Twitter to congratulate Lula. Sunak said the Brazilian is entering “a historic third term” as president and wished him “full success in leading” the country. He also said he hoped “to strengthen economic, cultural and environmental ties” between Brazil and the United Kingdom.

UK Ambassador to Brazil Stephanie Al-Qaq tweeted that she delivered a letter from King Charles III to Lula and shared excerpts from the document in Portuguese. In the letter, the monarch congratulates Lula and underlines the “warm friendship” and says he wants to deepen the “strong partnership” between the two countries, specifically citing the climate issue.

“Through the mobilization of investment, science and technology, we can work together to drive sustainable development and address the grand challenges of our climate, nature and food security. I was heartened to hear you stress the urgency of addressing the climate crisis during your victory speech and at COP27,” the king wrote.

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, hailed Lula and proposed that the two work on “progressive priorities” that they share. “Let’s build a better future for Canadians and Brazilians. And let us further strengthen the partnership between our two countries,” he tweeted.

The European Union expressed itself via its Twitter account EU in Brazil: “The EU congratulates the new government of Brazil. We want to strengthen our strategic partnership based on common values: democracy and human rights and commitment to multilateralism. We are ready for an important new chapter in our cooperation.

Contrast with Bolsonaro’s inauguration

At least 65 delegations made up of heads of state, heads of government and ministers took part in Lula’s inauguration. Twenty heads of state, four heads of government, two deputy prime ministers and 11 ministers were in Brasilia. Among them: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier; from Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; the King of Spain, Felipe VI°; and several leaders from neighboring countries.

Speaking to German journalists, including a team from DW, Steinmeier said a “new political era” was beginning in Brazil and “it’s good to know that Brazil is back on the international stage.” His trip to Brazil marked a rapprochement between Germany and Brazil after four years of estrangement and crises under the government of Jair Bolsonaro.

“We need Brazil, we need Brazilian political leadership, for the country to play its role. And not only in the economy, but also in global climate protection. And I was happy to see that the president-elect wants to play this role with Brazil. It’s good to be back in Brazil. It’s good to know that Brazil is back on the international stage,” said Steinmeier.

The presence of so many foreign officials this Sunday contrasts with Bolsonaro’s inauguration in 2019, which had only ten heads of state or government, with a list dominated by personalities from countries with little political and economic weight for Brazil, but whose leaders were ideologically aligned with the then president, such as the Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu and the Hungarian ultraconservative Viktor Orbán.

In retrospect, the vacancy of Bolsonaro’s functions already symbolized the isolation that the country would face in the next four years, marked by environmental crises and the estrangement of former partners, particularly in Europe. Lula spoke of Brazil’s isolation in his speeches on Sunday, saying the country will once again play a leading role, especially on climate issues.

Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández attended the inauguration and tweeted a photo with Lula along with the message: “Congratulations, President Lula! Latin America has united and fought. The dream has come true. I wish you the best for this management, the future will be one of deep brotherhood. With a fairer, freer and more egalitarian outlook, we will achieve the true development of our peoples.

Argentinian Vice President Christina Kirchner also spoke. “A new day is dawning in South America. Power, Lula! Strength, Brazil! “, he wrote.

Colombian leader Gustavo Petro, who visited Brazil, shared a photo of Lula’s speech to Congress with the message, “I hope these political changes will lead to the irreversible path of integration in South America.” .

Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who also attended the inauguration ceremony, tweeted a photo of the meeting with the Brazilian president and wrote: “Hope, democracy, justice and dignity for our peoples. With Lula we go together.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso shared footage of his meeting with Lula this Sunday and wrote: “We salute President Lula. Strengthening relations with the Republic of Brazil, for the benefit of both nations, is a goal we share. Success in your term, President.

Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, also attended the inauguration and said that Lula’s speech “reaffirms hopes for a new historic cycle of tolerance, inclusion, integration and solidarity in Brazil and throughout the Great Fatherland”.

Reconciliation with Venezuela

In congratulating Lula, the President of Venezuela underlined that the way is open for a union of the countries of South America.

“I congratulate with joy the inauguration of our comrade Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as President of Brazil. A new liberating wave is sweeping over the great homeland, opening avenues of geopolitical progress for projects of South American union. Our hug to Lula and the Brazilian people,” Maduro said on Twitter.

Venezuelan Parliament Speaker Jorge Rodríguez attended Lula’s inauguration on behalf of the Maduro government. Last Friday, the Bolsonaro government surprised by revoking a decree that prevented Maduro and other Venezuelan officials from entering the country.

Lula, who was a close friend of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and has similar ties to Maduro, had previously announced that once sworn in he would restore relations with Venezuela at all levels.

lf (DW, Efe, ots)

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