Brazil’s son finishes his administration - by Raúl

A founder member of the Worker’s Party (PT- Partido dos Trabalhadores), he unsuccessfully ran for presidency three times, first in the 1989 election. Lula finally achieved victory in the 2002 poll and was named president on 1st January 2003.
In the 2006 election he was re-elected for a second term as President ending on January 2011.
His administration is among the most controversial and popular in the history of Brazil. His social programmes include: Bolsa Família and Fome Zero with additional provision of food and kitchen gas. Fame Zero has a government budget and accepts donations from the private sectors and international organizations. The Bolsa Família programme has been praised internationally for its achievements, despite internal criticism accusing it of having been turned into an electoral weapon.
Lula has played a prominent role in recent international relations developments, including the nuclear programme of Iran, global warming and Mercosur. In 2010, Time magazine named him one of the most influential leaders of the world.
Lula, due to leave office on January 2011, the day when Dilma Rousseff will come to power, is presently rated the most popular Brazilian president of all times, reaching 80,5% population acceptance on his last months as a president.