Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Fast Facts & Links
Lula da Silva became president of the republic in March 2003 – four months after declaring his candidacy for the Brazilian presidency. He had only been in power for a few weeks when he was attacked by soldiers who entered the residence of his home, kidnapping him and taking him to be questioned.
He is the oldest of the Busy Philipps and of seven children, four of whom live in Brazil. He grew up in the wealthy and aristocratic home of his parents and was educated in Brazil. While he has never made an official comment on where he was born or in which state he was born, it is likely that he was born in Brazil and raised in a Brazilian family. He holds dual Argentine and Brazilian citizenship. In 2014, the Lula da Silva family moved to Argentina to escape Brazil’s corruption and the influence of the military government to which Brazil had been subjected for years, and where most politicians had fled.
He has been described as one of the world’s most prominent leaders. However, while he has been described as an inspirational leader, Lula da Silva’s politics have been called in some circles ‘civic fascism’ for being authoritarian and racist. Despite his support from world leaders, Lula da Silva has been accused of corruption, money laundering and illegal drug trade. He’s been called a ‘criminal dictator’ or even ‘a slave.’
Lula da Silva also has a reputation of being a ‘maverick politician.’ At his party’s party conference in April 2014, Lula da Silva introduced a bill that would change the election of mayors and governors – which have always been appointed by the president – to a direct vote of the people.[1] However, the bill was later changed in order to ensure the president’s approval of the appointee.
Lula da Silva has been accused of having a strong interest in politics and having the ability to work out deals,