Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Born on October 27, 1945, in Caetés, Pernambuco, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva grew up in a region marked by extreme poverty. He was the seventh of eight children born to parents who were farmers. In 1952, at the age of seven, he traveled with his mother and siblings to São Paulo in an open truck bed to reunite with his father.

However, the family situation was difficult, and he eventually moved with his mother to a small room behind a bar. His formal education was extremely limited; he did not learn to read until age ten and left school after the second grade to support his family. He held various jobs, including street vendor and shoeshiner, before entering the formal workforce at age 14.

In 1961, he began working as an apprentice in a metallurgical company, which served as his introduction to the labor movement. A significant turning point occurred in 1964 when he lost his left pinky finger in a factory accident. The lack of adequate medical attention he received during this crisis fueled his commitment to labor advocacy and union participation.

Lula’s career in the labor movement began in earnest at Villares Metals S.A. He rose through the ranks to become the president of the ABC Metalworkers' Union in 1975. During the late 1970s, he gained national prominence by leading major strikes against the military dictatorship that governed Brazil at the time.

These actions were deemed illegal by labor courts, leading to his imprisonment for one month in 1980. That same year, he helped found the Workers' Party (PT), a left-wing political organization. Throughout the 1980s, he was a key figure in the movement for direct elections in Brazil.

After serving as a federal deputy, he ran for president in 1989, 1994, and 1998, losing each time. These experiences shaped his political strategy, leading him to adopt more moderate economic policies by the 2002 election. This shift helped him secure his first presidential victory, making him the first leftist president following the end of the military regime.

Lula served two consecutive terms from 2003 to 2011. His administration was characterized by a focus on social welfare programs, most notably 'Bolsa Família,' which provided financial aid to low-income families and contributed to a significant reduction in poverty and child malnutrition. Economically, his terms benefited from a global commodity boom, allowing Brazil to pay off its debt to the International Monetary Fund ahead of schedule.

However, his administration also faced significant challenges, including corruption scandals like the 'Mensalão' vote-buying scheme, which led to the resignation of key cabinet members. Despite these controversies, he left office in 2011 with an 80% approval rating. His successor, Dilma Rousseff, continued his party's policies, but the following years brought legal challenges for Lula.

In 2017, he was convicted on charges of money laundering and corruption, leading to 580 days of imprisonment. In 2021, the Supreme Federal Court nullified his convictions, citing serious biases in the judicial process, which cleared the way for his political return.

In the 2022 general election, Lula defeated the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, becoming the first Brazilian president to win a third term. Sworn in on January 1, 2023, at age 77, he became the oldest president in the nation's history. His current administration has prioritized institutional and economic reforms, including a landmark tax reform and a new fiscal framework.

His government has also successfully reduced the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours and implemented tax cuts for the middle class. Environmental policy has been a cornerstone of his third term, with Amazon deforestation rates falling to their lowest levels in over a decade. Internationally, he has worked to renew Brazil's engagement, leading negotiations for the Mercosur–European Union trade agreement.

As of October 2026, his administration continues to navigate complex economic issues, including public debt and interest rates, while maintaining a focus on social equity and environmental sustainability.

Lula’s personal life has been marked by both tragedy and resilience. He has been widowed twice and married three times. His marriage to Marisa Letícia Rocco Casa lasted 43 years until her death in 2017.

In 2022, he married Rosângela da Silva, known as Janja. He is a practicing Catholic and a dedicated supporter of the SC Corinthians Paulista football club. Throughout his life, he has maintained a strong connection to his working-class roots, often speaking about the responsibility he felt to prove that a leader from a humble background could effectively govern a nation.

As of August 2, 2026, Lula has formally launched his bid for reelection in the upcoming general election. His political career remains one of the most significant and debated in modern Brazilian history, reflecting the country's complex journey toward democracy and economic development. His ability to return to the presidency after legal and political setbacks remains a central theme of his legacy.