The progressive leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 77, was sworn in before Parliament this Sunday as the new president of the Federative Republic of Brazil for the period 2023-2027.

“I promise to maintain, defend and comply with the Constitution, observe the laws, promote the general good of the Brazilian people, uphold the union, integrity and independence of Brazil,” declared the new ruler, who had been in prison four years ago for alleged corruption. in trials later annulled by the Supreme Court.

Lula is the first Brazilian politician to come to power three times. Exactly twenty years ago today, he was sworn in as president for the first time and he did it again four years after his re-election in 2009.

He replaces the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, who last Friday traveled to the United States without having yet recognized his defeat in last October’s elections.

The new Brazilian president arrived at Parliament after parading in a vehicle without a hood in front of a crowd of tens of thousands of people who, since the first hour of this January 1, have gathered to attend the inauguration ceremonies.

At the beginning of the session in Parliament, a minute of silence was observed in honor of former soccer player Edson Arantes do Nascimento “Pelé” and emeritus pope Benedict XVI, who died in recent days.

Delegations from fifty countries and the entire diplomatic corps accredited to the country are present in Parliament.

Among the attendees are the King of Spain, Felipe IV, and the presidents of Argentina, Alberto Fernández; Bolivia, Luis Arce; Colombia, Gustavo Petro; Chile, Gabriel Boric; Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou; Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; and Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The official ceremonies will conclude with a reception that will be offered by Lula to the foreign delegations at the Itamaraty Palace, seat of the Foreign Ministry, next to the Parliament and Government headquarters.

Hours before the ceremony, the so-called Festival of the Future is held on the Esplanade, a concert that brings together fifty popular artists and whose curtain is expected to fall late Monday morning.