Lula lays bare legacy and succession dilemmas in speech

In what is likely his final presidential candidacy speech, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva exposed the dilemmas of his legacy and succession. Speaking at the PT convention in São Paulo, Lula's address began with an improvisational, intimate tone, recalling his humble origins and past triumphs. This personal narrative, a hallmark of his career, was even reflected in his wife Janja's t-shirt, which featured a childhood photo of him.

Lula's lengthy digression into historical episodes seemed to lose the audience until he transitioned to reading his prepared remarks. Here, the substance emerged, though still centered on Lula himself. The "president of Bolsa Família" expressed a desire to be recognized for more than that nickname, seeking to defend his programs while evolving his public image. This attempt to present a different vision for re-election, while highlighting past achievements, created a somewhat contradictory narrative.

The article speculates that the weight of years in power and age might be contributing to Lula's focus on his legacy. Having consistently prevented other leaders from gaining prominence, he again suggested Fernando Haddad as a successor. However, Lula also imposed conditions, stating Haddad could seek the presidency only after "governing São Paulo for eight years," a significant hurdle.

Lula also promised to be a "tough Lulinha" rather than the "peace and love" version, a shift that might resonate with the party base but could be questionable for undecided voters. The convention's staging, with red lighting, emphasized the party's identity. Electoral strategies were evident in the speech's focus on women and violence against them, and on national sovereignty, a topic Lula has repeatedly addressed recently.

While acknowledging that the focus on national defense might alienate some on the left, Lula's tone aligned with military sentiment. This approach, the article suggests, is partly influenced by Donald Trump's "interventionism." Notably, Lula avoided direct attacks on Trump or his rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, whom he dismissively referred to as a "piece of trash."