Lula: from poverty, to the presidency, to prison

On Saturday, April 7, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began serving a 12-year-one-month prison sentence. It was not, however, the first time that Lula was arrested. He was already incarcerated in 1980, although the circumstances couldn’t be more different.

Thirty-eight years ago, he was a union leader that commanded a massive strike that lasted 17 days. He was considered an enemy of the military dictatorship, and arrested upon the orders of the generals.

Now, Lula is a convicted felon, found guilty of corruption and money laundering.

Just a few years ago, Lula was approved by 80 percent of Brazilians – both rich and poor, intellectuals and those without formal education. He epitomized what many believed a leader should be. “The man,” as Barack Obama once called him.

What a turn of events.

But then again, Lula’s story is filled with unbelievable moments, both positive and negative. We’ve compiled some of the main events during the career of Brazil’s most popular politician in recent memory.

1945

Luiz Inácio da Silva was born at Caetés, a poor town in the countryside of Pernambuco. Like many others from the region named Luiz, he is nicknamed Lula.

1952

As with many families in the northeast, his family fled the droughts and poor living conditions to try their luck in Brazil’s southeast. The Silva family made the 13-day trip to Santos on the back of a truck.

1969

Lula becomes a replacement member at the São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema Steelworkers’ Union. It is the first office he ever held as a union member.

1975

After six years in the union, he is elected its president. Three years later, he wins reelection.

1980

On February 10, 1980, the Workers’ Party celebrates its foundation at a school...