Brazilian politician and trade unionist, the current president-elect of Brazil, who previously served as the 35th President of Brazil from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2010 . Nicknamed “Lula” (“The Squid”), he was a founding member of the Workers’ Party (PT) and ran unsuccessfully for President three times before achieving victory in the 2002 election, being re-elected in the 2006 election. Lula has been called one of the most popular politicians in the history of Brazil and while in office was one of the most popular in the world.
The introduction of social programs such as Bolsa Família and Fome Zero were hallmarks of his time in office. As President, Lula played a prominent role in international matters including activities related to the nuclear program of Iran and global warming, being described as “a man with audacious ambitions to alter the balance of power among nations”. Succeeded by his former Chief of Staff, Dilma Rousseff, he left an enduring mark on Brazilian politics in the form of Lulism. However, during Brazil’s Operation Car Wash corruption investigations he was arrested on 7 April 2018, then sentenced to 12 years in prison and jailed on charges of money laundering and passive corruption. He is the fifth President of Brazil who has gone to jail and the first to be arrested for corruption.
Lula, who was a smoker for 40 years, was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent chemotherapy, leading to a successful recovery.
Lula has been married three times, widowed twice and has five children.
Link to Wikipedia biography