Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the winner of Brazil’s presidential elections on October 30, took the oath of office at the National Congress. Lula, who served as president of Brazil for two terms between 2003 and 2011, was re-elected after a 12-year hiatus.
Tens of thousands of Brazilians gathered in Tres Poderes Square near the National Congress to watch Lula’s swearing-in ceremony live on a giant screen. During the ceremony, Brazilian football legend Pele, who died last Thursday, and Pope XVI, who died yesterday, were honored. In Benedict’s honor, a minute of silence was observed.
The King of Spain, VI. Felipe, and other states and governments from 20 countries, including Portugal, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as well as delegations from more than 50 countries, took part in the ceremony. Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, also attended the ceremony.