On Saturday, former Greek PM and leader of main opposition Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, met Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva—often known simply as Lula—in Brasilia. Lula is set to be inaugurated on Sunday for a third term as Brazilian President.
The two men discussed the governmental experience of the left and progressive forces in Greece and Brazil. They agreed that today’s struggle for democracy and tackling inequalities against the right and far-right is as important as the struggle of the previous decades to defend society from austerity policies and neoliberal globalization.
At the same time, they emphasized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the new Cold War it is leading to, the US-China rivalry, and the climate crisis have severe consequences for Europe and Latin America that require their closer cooperation for the purpose of peace and sustainable development.
Tsipras tweeted:”Lula is back. This time he will not only fight to fight inequalities but also to defend the Republic and unite his country. Because Bolsonaro was defeated but Bolsonarism is still here, as he characteristically told me in our meeting.”
Ο Λούλα επέστρεψε.
Αυτή τη φορά δε θα αγωνιστεί μόνο για να καταπολεμήσει τις ανισότητες, αλλά και για να υπερασπιστεί τη Δημοκρατία και να ενώσει τη χώρα του.
Γιατί ο Μπολσονάρο νικήθηκε αλλά ο Μπολσοναρισμός είναι ακόμη εδώ, όπως χαρακτηριστικά μού είπε στη συνάντησή μας. pic.twitter.com/lWdl5VSnlS— Αλέξης Τσίπρας – Alexis Tsipras (@atsipras) January 1, 2023
Tsipras informed Lula of Turkey’s aggression
Tsipras informed the Brazilian President about the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the increasing Turkish aggression.
They underscored the importance of communicating messages to Turkey in support of respect for international law and for a fair and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue based on UN resolutions.
The swearing-in of Lula will cap a remarkable political comeback for the 77-year-old politician, who returns to the presidential palace in Brasilia less than five years after being jailed on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges.
Outgoing leader Jair Bolsonaro left Brazil for the US state of Florida on Friday—reportedly to avoid having to hand the presidential sash to his bitter enemy as tradition dictates.
In his final address as President on Friday, Bolsonaro criticized Lula’s new cabinet as well as one of his own supporters who was caught in an alleged plot to blow up a fuel lorry ahead of Sunday’s inauguration.
The snub has hardly dampened the party spirit for Lula and the three hundred thousand people expected at both a ceremony and a massive concert that will feature acts ranging from samba legend Martinho da Vila to drag queen Pabllo Vittar.
Thousands of Lula supporters have been flooding the capital, traveling by plane, car, and even bicycle to camp near the Esplanade of Ministries.
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