In his first Christmas message since regaining power, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for peace and unity in the face of the hatred that divided the country during the attempted coup against him nearly a year ago. Lula emphasized the need to restore peace and unity among friends and family, referring to the assault on Brasilia when thousands of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed and destroyed the presidency’s headquarters, Congress, and the Supreme Court. He condemned the incident as a manifestation of the hatred of some against the rule of law, which deeply scarred the nation, divided families, and endangered democracy.
The Brazilian president highlighted that the attempted coup had the unintended consequence of uniting institutions, mobilizing political parties across ideologies, and garnering a swift response from society. To date, the Supreme Court has convicted around 20 individuals involved in the assault, with 66 still in prison and others undergoing the judicial process. Lula urged Brazilians to combat fake news, misinformation, and hate speech, emphasizing the importance of preserving the integrity of public discourse.
Addressing the achievements of his administration in 2023, Lula outlined the recovery of social programs from his previous terms and the approval of a comprehensive tax reform. He expressed optimism about the Brazilian economy in the coming year, stating that the groundwork and necessary conditions for a generous harvest had been established. The financial market predicts that Brazil will close 2023 with almost 3 percent growth, inflation within the target ceiling, and unemployment just below 8 percent. However, the public deficit has surged, reaching 8 percent of GDP, and the debt is approximately 75 percent of GDP.
Despite projections of a slowdown in 2024, Lula assured citizens that his government will exceed expectations once again. As Brazil moves forward, the president emphasized the importance of unity and working together to overcome challenges. Lula’s message of peace, unity, and hope resonates with Brazilians as they look towards the future and strive to build a stronger nation.
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