Historical Figure
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
b. 1945
President of Brazil (2003–2011; since 2023)
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Biography
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist and former metalworker who has served as the 39th president of Brazil since 2023. A member of the Workers' Party, Lula was also the 35th president from 2003 to 2011.
Timeline
The story of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, told in moments.
Born Luiz Inacio da Silva in Pernambuco, Brazil. Quit school after second grade to work. Didn't learn to read until he was 10. Moved to Sao Paulo at age seven. Became a metalworker as a teenager.
Co-founded the Workers' Party during Brazil's military dictatorship. Between 1978 and 1980 he'd led the ABC workers' strikes, shutting down auto factories. Lost a finger in a press accident in 1968. He organized with the hand he had left.
Won the presidency on his fourth attempt, after losing in 1989, 1994, and 1998. His social programs lifted millions out of poverty. GDP grew. External debt fell. He left office in 2011 with an 80% approval rating.
Arrested on corruption charges in Operation Car Wash. Spent 580 days in prison. His convictions were later nullified by the Supreme Federal Court in 2021, which found serious bias in the original proceedings.
Sworn in as president for a third term at age 77. He'd defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff. Oldest president in Brazilian history at inauguration. First to win a third term. First to defeat a sitting president.
In Their Own Words (18)
Brazil condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Discurso...durante almoço com o Rei Felipe VI, da Espanha", gov.br (26 April 2023), 2023
Every night I ask myself why all countries have to base their trade on the dollar. Why can't we do based on our own currencies? Who was it that decided that the dollar was the currency after the disappearance of the gold standard?
"Discurso...na cerimônia de posse de Dilma Rousseff na Presidência do NBD", gov.br (13 April 2023), 2023
Every time we talk about fighting drugs, it would possibly be easier for us to fight our own addicts internally. The users — the users are responsible for the traffickers, who are themselves victims of the users as well.
At a press conference in Jakarta, October 2025; reported in Aline Hall de Beuvink, "O traficante de droga, essa 'vítima'", Diário de Notícias (29 October 2025), 2023
[Q:] So Volodomyr Zelensky should have talked to Putin more, even with 100,000 Russian troops at his border?[A:] I don’t know the President of Ukraine. But his behavior is a bit weird. It seems like he’s part of the spectacle. He is on television morning, noon, and night. He is in the U.K. parliament, the German parliament, the French parliament, the Italian parliament, as if he were waging a political campaign. He should be at the negotiating table.[Q:] Can you really say that to Zelensky? He didn’t want a war, it came to him.[A:] He did want war. If he didn’t want war, he would have negotiated a little more. That’s it. I criticized Putin when I was in Mexico City [in March], saying that it was a mistake to invade. But I don’t think anyone is trying to help create peace. People are stimulating hate against Putin. That won’t solve things! We need to reach an agreement. But people are encouraging [the war]. You are encouraging this guy [Zelensky], and then he thinks he is the cherry on your cake. We should be having a serious conversation: "OK, you were a nice comedian. But let us not make war for you to show up on TV." And we should say to Putin: "You have a lot of weapons, but you don’t need to use them on Ukraine. Let’s talk!"
Interview by Ciara Nugent, "Lula Talks to TIME About Ukraine, Bolsonaro, and Brazil's Fragile Democracy", Time (4 May 2022), 2016
Does anyone really think the US is going to favour Brazil? [...] Americans think of themselves first, second, third, fourth, fifth – and if there’s any time left over they think about Americans. And these Brazilian lackeys go around thinking the Americans will do anything for us.
Reported in Anna Jean Kaiser and Tom Phillips, "Brazil governed by 'lunatics' and US 'lackeys', says ex-president Lula", The Guardian (April 27, 2019), 2016
Artifacts (15)
President Ciampi with Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of Federative Republic of Brazil
President Ciampi with Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of Federative Republic of Brazil
President Ciampi with Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of Federative Republic of Brazil during press statements
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