Standing in front of an audience of some of Brazil’s most powerful politicians, Geraldo Alckmin could not contain his praise for former president and frontrunner in this year’s elections, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula — as the leftwing leader who served two terms between 2003 and 2010 is known — “represented democracy” and, if re-elected in October, would put Brazil back on the world stage, said Alckmin, one of the nation’s most prominent centre-right, establishment politicians.
It was a speech that capped a turnround in relations between the men, who for much of the past 20 years were bitter political rivals, contesting a presidential race in 2006 that was marred by mudslinging and accusations of corruption.