Lula was sworn as the new President of Brazil on January 1. He had been the nation’s elected President from 2002-10. Lula, who has served prison time for his involvement in corruption, apparently won 50.90 per cent of the vote and the conservative candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, received 49.10 per cent.
It was an unexpected comeback for the far-left politician who was responsible for the biggest series of corruption scandals in the nation’s history. Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Mary Anastasia O’Grady reminds us that:
‘The evidence against Lula was solid and his conviction had been confirmed by two appeals court. But the high court reversed its own precedents and annulled the decision. It knew that the statute of limitations didn’t leave time for a retrial. Lula was released but never exonerated.’
"Democracy" is a funny thing.