Brazil’s Lula turns 81, vows to work 24 hours a day

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned 81 on Tuesday, pledging to work around the clock to fulfil his promises after securing a historic victory in the country’s presidential election.

Lula won Sunday’s runoff against right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro, securing 51.8 per cent of the vote against his rival’s 48.2 per cent. The victory earned the left-wing leader another term in office, marking his return to power for a fourth presidential term.

In a video shared on Instagram to mark his birthday, Lula promised to deliver what he described as the best presidential term in Brazil’s history. He said he would dedicate 24 hours a day to building the country its people aspired to see.

The president’s age has remained a subject of discussion during the election campaign. However, Lula sought to counter concerns about his fitness by presenting himself as energetic and physically active. He frequently jogged during campaign events and shared videos of his gym workouts on social media, insisting that he was in better shape than ever.

Lula also made changes to his campaign’s social media strategy following an unexpected setback in the first round of voting. After the result, his team adopted a refreshed digital approach to strengthen his connection with voters, particularly younger Brazilians. The president purchased his first mobile phone and embraced social media selfies, even calling himself the “king of the selfie”.

Following his election victory, Lula thanked Brazil’s young voters for their support, praising the country’s “rebellious youth” for helping his campaign secure a decisive win in the closely contested race.

His opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro, is the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who is in prison. The contest highlighted the continuing political divide between Lula’s left-wing Workers’ Party and supporters of Brazil’s right-wing movement.

Lula’s Workers’ Party called on supporters to gather outside the presidential residence in Brasilia on Tuesday to celebrate his birthday.

The election victory gives Lula another opportunity to pursue his political agenda and strengthen his legacy in Brazil.