Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was inaugurated as Brazil’s 39th president on January 1, with a day of celebrations that mixed the solemnity of political pomp with the carefree atmosphere of a festival.
Fears that radical supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro might disrupt the occasion or instigate violence proved unfounded, and the inauguration went ahead in a peaceful and orderly fashion. Hundreds of thousands of delighted Brazilians, clad in the signature red of Lula’s Workers’ Party, flocked to Brasília to witness this historical moment.
Lula’s return to the presidency for a third term is seen by the Brazilians who voted for him as the victory of democracy over authoritarianism and the return of hope after four years of dire mismanagement by the far-right Mr. Bolsonaro. Lula’s inauguration reflected this sense of hope and renewal, with a ceremony heavy on symbolism and a front-row seat given to historically excluded members of the Brazilian population.
In the absence of Mr. Bolsonaro, who fled to the U.S. last week, ignoring protocol which demands that the outgoing...