How Do You Define Unity in Brazil? Lula!

Jade Holmes
Staff Writer

A phrase like “Unity and Reconstruction” could be nothing but a vision of a utopian fantasy to some in Brazil. Yet, in his efforts to strengthen the country, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva kept his promise to fight corruption and save Brazil from a broken political system. He showed his strive for national strength and reunification of the country during Brazil’s 201st Independence Day Parade. 

On September 7, Brazil celebrated its 201st anniversary, where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pursued his mission of national unity at Brazil’s Independence Day parade. About 30,000 people attended the parade, watching events such as a military demonstration and other representations of national pride. Brasil de Fato reported that “many took to the streets to protest against hunger and previous Brazilian President Bolsarno’s imprisonment”. 

Though President Lula da Silva is dealing with political tension due to the previous administration’s lingering military ideologies, Lula da Silva’s vision persists, exclaiming his hopes and dreams for Brazil’s united future. Though some agree with his stance, standing for unity can be an issue for many. Da Silva’s administration still directs the issue at hand as keeping a united front.

According to Reuters, da Silva called for people from all walks of life in Brazil, from athletes to political leaders, to come together and celebrate the pride of the nation. “This is not a day of hate or fear; it is a day of unity,” Lula stated. 

“Democracy, Sovereignty, and Unity” are terms being normalized throughout Brazil as da Silva tries to rebuild faith in the government and the military. This comes directly after dispensing of domestic responsibilities previously imposed on the military in the years of the Bolsonaro government administration.

Jair Bolsonaro’s administration was known for its heavy reliance on the military. During his term ABC News reports, Bolsonaro quickly appointed members of the military, active and reserved, to different posts in Brazil, effectively giving the military immense power and control over Brazil.  According to The Conversation, “the military was appointed strategic government positions such as chief of staff and minister of health under the Bolsonaro administration”. So far, da Silva has distributed some of the previous military roles and appointed them to state officials. The role of the country’s intelligence department was also stripped from the military and appointed to Lula’s administration. 

As the country is still recovering from January 8, when supporters of Jair Bolsonaro overran the Supreme Court and Congress in hopes and demands to keep him in power. According to Al Jazeera,, “supporters blocked roads and set vehicles on fire calling military forces to Save Brazil.” Outrage filled the streets, as rioters shouted phrases such as “Armed forces, save Brazil!”  and “United, the people will never be defeated!” in defiance of Bolsarono’s ousting, said PBS.

Carolina Botelho, a political scientist at the University of Sao Paulo’s Advanced Studies Institute spoke to The Associate Press on the matter at hand. “The message is not only to unify but to rescue a state institution for society,” Botelho said. “The previous government tried to appropriate these celebrations, the armed forces, for personal purposes”.

Some natives and political commentators view da Silva’s projection of unity as a challenging mission. Unification will be especially challenging if there is an underlying economic crisis impacting Mercosur, the South American regional trade bloc. According to BBC News, the Mercosur, or the “Southern Market” has struggled for more than five years. In 2016, Venezuela was accused of mishandling a clash between farmers and law enforcement, and was soon suspended from active membership in Mercosur. 

Looking ahead to the future of Brazil, the love that Lula da Silva has for his people at the end of the day should not go unnoticed. He is trying to reinvent the national pride and regain the trust of his people. He has created more hope as he looks to the future of the nation with determination to change the lingering status quo of a broken state, Expressed in his motto “Unity and Reconstruction,” which sent shockwaves through to the people of Brazil. 

Image courtesy of Flickr