Lula’s political career is marked by the creation of the PT, elections for president, political scandals and prison. See the main moments of Lula’s life and political trajectory
Birth and trip to São Paulo
Lula was born in Garanhuns, a city in the interior of Pernambuco, in 1945. With a poor family, he went to Sao Paulo at the age of eight, first to the coast, where he lived with his father, and then to the state capital
Childhood and Work
At 12, he worked as a clothing delivery and general assistant. Later, he took a mechanical Tornearia course at Senai and held the profession at Screws Mars, where he lost his minimum finger in an accident
Unionism
At the age of 22, he joined the São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema Metallurgists Union and began to engage politically. Later, he assumed the presidency of the organization and led the general strikes of 1979 and 1980
The PT and the Constituent Assembly
Lula participated in the creation of the PT, in 1980, and was elected constituent deputy, collaborating with the elaboration of the Constitution in the Chamber of Deputies, a house in which he remained until 1991
1989 elections
Lula ran for the presidency for the first time in 1989, the first election for the position after the dictatorship. Was defeated by Fernando Collor de Mello, who held the position until 1992, when he suffered impeachment
1994 and 1998 elections
The petista faced Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB), who supported him in 1989, in the 1994 and 1998 presidential disputes. The toucan won the two elections in the first round, and Lula was in second place
Victory in 2002
In the fourth attempt to reach Planalto, Lula beat José Serra (PSDB) with 61% of the votes in the second round, after a series of political concessions to please more conservative sectors and the market
Monthly and reelection in 2006
The bribe payment scheme revealed in 2005 was a scandal, but did not take Lula out of the presidency. With a government marked by good economic results and social programs, the petista was reelected
Lula and Dilma
After finishing the second term with a high approval fee, Lula filed Dilma Rousseff’s candidacy (PT) to the presidency. Years later, he was appointed minister of the Civil House, but the designation was suspended
Cancer
In November 2011, Lula received the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer and began to do radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions. Was considered healed in June 2012
Operation Lava Jet
He was the target of the operation that revealed the transfer of billions of reais in bribes to politicians and investigated it due to suspicions involving a triplex in Guarujá and a site in Atibaia
Prison in Curitiba
Following the conviction in the second instance, Lula was arrested in April 2018. Prevented from running for the presidency, was replaced by Fernando Haddad (PT), who lost the election to Jair Bolsonaro at the time at PSL
Eligible again
In June 2021, the Supreme Court declared former Judge Sérgio Moro partial in conducting the Guarujá triplex process and Lula’s convictions were nullified, making him could compete again elections again
Third mandate
In 2022, he played the election for the third time against then -President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). With 50.9% of the valid votes, he assumed the presidency again, becoming the oldest occupant of office in the history of Brazil
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