Late on the afternoon of Jan. 8, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stared out at Brazil’s ravaged capital from a third-floor balcony of the presidential palace and reflected on how his presidency had been upended.
The leader known universally as Lula had spent hours wading through piles of overturned desks, across floors defiled by rioters, and past the remnants of what were once priceless historical artifacts. Somber and silent, it was only now that the scale of the challenge he faced hit home, according to a close ally who discussed that day’s events in Brasilia with the president.
After his campaign focus on unifying Brazil, a hopeful message that helped secure his narrow victory over Jair Bolsonaro in October, Lula was confronted with just how divided the nation of more than 215 million had become since he last governed. His conclusion, this person said, was that instead of pursuing unity, he’d have to go all out to conquer his opponents to ensure his third term and policy ambitions weren’t derailed.
