Enfim, Lula livre!
We celebrate the release of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from prison: a veteran of the labour movement, a trade union leader who resisted the Brazilian military regime in the past and a successful reformer of Brazil's economic and social system in his tenure as president.
President Lula is a symbolic figure. A champion of workers who occupied the highest office in Brazil and who empowered the poor in a country stifled by an oligarchic and racist establishment.
He was jailed on allegedly sham charges of corruption, his persecution has carried clear signs of political motivation. His prosecutor became minister of justice under Bolsonaro. Lula was prevented from standing against Bolsonaro in the 2018 election, a stark violation of his rights and an assault on Brazilian democracy.
The Brazilian Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that Brazilians cannot be jailed while an appeal process is active, precipitating the release of the former president after 580 days in prison. Practically this means Lula is innocent until proven guilty on appeal, he is a free man today and he can resume his political activities on the left to great popular support.
Here is a mighty challenger to the disastrous Jair Bolsonaro and we welcome his return!
