Brazil: Brazil’s new president Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to save the country from Mr. Jair Bolsonaro’s era of “devastation, barbarism, and hate” after being sworn in as the head of Latin America’s largest democracy.

In his inaugural address before congress, Mr. Lula vowed to “maintain, defend, and obey the constitution” as he returned to the presidency.

The veteran left-wing politician, who previously led the country between 2003 and 2010, defeated Mr. Jair Bolsonaro in the October 2022 poll.

Mr. Lula celebrated the defeat of the far-right radical’s “authoritarian project” in his speech to Brazil’s national congress, promising to lead the country into a new era of environmental protection, social progress, and rational democratic government.

“Democracy was the big winner in this election. Long live democracy. Long live the Brazilian people,” the left-wing leader declared.

The new president pledged to undo the legacy of his predecessor’s government, which he said involved depleting funding for education, health, and the conservation of the Amazon rainforest.

Mr. Lula pointed out Mr. Bolsonaro’s COVID-19 policies in particular, accusing him of causing a “genocide” of deaths in Brazil during the pandemic, which would need to be fully investigated.

“The criminal behaviour of a denialist and obscurantist government that treated people’s lives with callousness during the coronavirus pandemic should not go unpunished,” Mr. Lula continued.

“Those who made mistakes will have to respond for those mistakes,” the veteran politician added.

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