Former shoe-shine boy, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who never finished high-school, became Brazil's first working-class president on Wednesday, as tens of thousands celebrated the historic changeover in Latin America's largest country.
Nine heads of state were present in Brasilia in honor of the event, including Cuba’s President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The United States sent trade representative Robert Zoellick to attend the ceremonies.
At Congress in Brasilia, Lula took the oath of office as the first leftist elected to the presidency. Supporters from across the country cheered outside as he vowed to change the nation's course to improve the lot of Brazil's working majority.
He noted his own struggle against poverty as proof that the nation had the resources to wipe out its problems including increasing crime, hunger and rising unemployment. Change is the key word," said Lula, who swept into power with 61% of the vote to head the largest country in Latin America.
"The time has come to transform Brazil into that nation we have always dreamed of - a sovereign nation, dignified, conscious of the international arena while still capable of sheltering and treating with justice all of its people," he said.
"When I see my own life as an immigrant from the Northeast, a boy who sold peanuts and oranges at the port of Santos ... who is now the president, I am convinced we can do much more, and to do so all we need is to believe in ourselves," Lula said. "We are starting a new chapter in Brazil's history." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
