Brazil Inaugurates its First Elected Leftist President
By HAROLD OLMOS | Associated Press 01/01/2003
Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his vice-President Jose Alencar wave en route to the National Congress to be sworn in as Brazil's President. - AP | Victor Caivano RASILIA, Brazil—Latin America's biggest nation marked a dramatic change in leadership Wednesday with the inauguration of a former shoeshine boy as Brazil's first elected leftist president.
A beaming Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took the oath of office in Brazil's Congress as tens of thousands of working class Brazilians cheered the elementary school dropout who went on to become a union leader and the head of Brazil's Workers Party.
As Silva traveled to Congress in the back of a convertible Rolls-Royce, a sea people of chanted "Lula! Lula!" and raised red flags bearing the color his party in the air.
Silva, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, stood in the back of a car, smiling and waving to the crowd. He is popularly known as Lula. At one point, a horse carrying one of the country's presidential military guards apparently was frightened and fell to the ground in front of the car before being raised by its rider.
The incident only briefly interrupted Silva's trip down Esplanada de Ministerios to Congress.
A short time later, security guards pushed away a man who broke through barriers, rushed to the car and hugged Silva. The incoming president let the man hug him, then continued waving to the crowd.
And just before Silva walked on a red carpet into Congress, several young people broke through police lines at the side of an artificial lake, jumping into the water to be closer to the future president.
Leaders and representatives of 119 countries - including Cuban leader Fidel Castro and presidents of six other Latin American nations - were attending the inauguration.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived Wednesday morning in Brasilia, the capital, leaving behind a crippling strike in his country that has virtually paralyzed oil production for the world's fifth largest exporter.
But the most prominent guest was Cuban President Fidel Castro. Castro, 76, looked healthy and in good spirits after recovering from a serious leg infection that kept him out of sight in Cuba for two weeks last month.
As he entered a Brasilia hotel, Castro waved to photographers and said that he was happy Cuba no longer holds the "monopoly of Jan. 1," the day that Cubans celebrate the revolution that brought Castro to power.
Silva counts Castro and Chavez among his friends. On Thursday, Silva plans to have breakfast with Chavez and lunch with Castro. The United States sent U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick. Zoellick and Sen. Michael Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, met Wednesday morning for an hour with Antonio Palocci, Silva's finance minister.
"It was a listen and learn visit, in which the basic economic problems of Brazil were discussed," Zoellick said in a statement. Silva, 57, takes over from Fernando Henrique Cardoso in Brazil's first transition between two democratically elected presidents in over 40 years. He will be Brazil's 36th president.
A former radical who used to espouse socialism, Silva has promised to end hunger and economic misery in a country where an estimated 50 million of the 175 million citizens live in poverty. But he faces huge challenges: inflation has crept into the double digits for the first time in years, and a regional economic crisis that has plunged Brazil's neighbors into financial chaos.
Brazil's currency, the real, lost 35 percent of its value against the dollar last year, reflecting investor concern over whether Silva will keep his pledge of financing the country's large foreign debt burden - or whether Brazil will default, as Argentina did a year ago. People watching the ceremony said Silva is up to the job but will have a tough time keeping his campaign promises.
"I hope he's going to change things, but it's a huge challenge for him," said Fabiane Cristina, a 20-year-old baby sitter who lives in Brasilia.
In a break with tradition, organizers set up huge TV screens in the park and a stage where Brazilian pop groups started playing hours before the inauguration. Hundreds of outdoor stalls sold everything from grilled pork and beer to T-shirts.
Brazilian pop music superstar Gilberto Gil, who will serve as Silva's cultural minister, was one of the first to play.
"Viva Lula!" Gil shouted to thunderous applause from people waving red flags and dressed in the red and white of Silva's party. After a 14-hour bus ride from the financial capital, Sao Paulo, musician Joao Carlos Souza stretched his legs and changed into a bright red T-shirt reading "100 percent Lula."
Souza said he'd never been to a Brazilian inauguration before because the previous events "were for people in suits drinking champagne."
"This time, it's going to be fun to participate in history," he said.