WATCH: Exclusive Interview by Glenn Greenwald with Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva

Glenn Greenwald

ENGLISH VERSION

The life trajectory of Brazil’s former President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (“Lula”) has been extraordinary. Born into extreme poverty, Lula left the presidential office in 2010, after serving two terms, with an unprecedented 86% approval rating, seemingly destined to enjoy almost universal respect on the world stage and to be remembered as one of modern history’s greatest statesmen. Similar to the post-office path of Tony Blair and Bill and Hillary Clinton, Lula, since his term ended, has amassed great personal wealth by delivering speeches and providing consulting services to global power centers. The moderately left-wing party he co-founded, the Worker’s Party (PT), has now controlled the presidency for fourteen straight years... See the entire enterview.

VERSÃO EM PORTUGUÊS

A trajetória de vida do ex-presidente do Brasil, Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, é extraordinária. Nascido em extrema pobreza, Lula deixou a presidência em 2010, após exercer dois mandatos, com uma aprovação popular de 86%, sem precedentes, provavelmente destinado a desfrutar de um respeito quase universal no cenário do mundo e a ser lembrado como um dos maiores estadistas da História moderna. De forma similar ao caminho pós-governo seguido por Tony Blair e Bill e Hillary Clinton, Lula, desde o término de seu mandato, tem agregado um grande poder pessoal por meio de seus discursos e prestado serviços de consultoria a potências globais. O partido de esquerda moderada co-fundado por ele, Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), já controla a presidência por quatorze anos consecutivos ... Veja a entrevista na íntegra:

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The Message of Brazil’s Youth

By LUIZ INÁCIO LULA da SILVA (NYTimes)

Published: July 16, 2013

São Paulo — Young people, quick fingers on their cellphones, have taken to the streets around the world.

It would seem easier to explain these protests when they take place in nondemocratic countries, as in Egypt and Tunisia in 2011, or in countries where the economic crisis has raised the number of unemployed young workers to frightening highs, as in Spain and Greece, than when they emerge in countries with popular democratic governments — like Brazil, where we currently enjoy the lowest unemployment rates in our history and an unparalleled expansion of economic and social rights.

Many analysts attribute recent protests to a rejection of politics. I think it’s precisely the opposite: They reflect a drive to increase the reach of democracy, to encourage people to take part more fully.

I can only speak with authority about my country, Brazil, where I think the demonstrations are largely the result of social, economic and political successes. In the last decade, Brazil doubled its number of university students, many from poor families. We sharply reduced poverty and inequality. These are significant achievements, yet it is completely natural that young people, especially those who are obtaining things their parents never had, should desire more.