This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6222853.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brazil's Lula sworn in to office | Brazil's Lula sworn in to office |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Brazil's newly re-elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in on Monday for a second term. | Brazil's newly re-elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in on Monday for a second term. |
| He won re-election in a landslide victory in October, despite corruption scandals which tarnished his party. | He won re-election in a landslide victory in October, despite corruption scandals which tarnished his party. |
| The former leftist union leader has pledged to retain social change at the heart of his mandate, a policy which has kept him high in opinion polls. | The former leftist union leader has pledged to retain social change at the heart of his mandate, a policy which has kept him high in opinion polls. |
| President Lula was giving an open-air inaugural speech to supporters outside the presidential palace in Brasilia. | President Lula was giving an open-air inaugural speech to supporters outside the presidential palace in Brasilia. |
| Speaking in the palace, the president pledged: "I promise to uphold, defend and honour the constitution, observe the laws, promote the general well-being of the Brazilian people, and preserve the union, the integrity and independence of Brazil." | Speaking in the palace, the president pledged: "I promise to uphold, defend and honour the constitution, observe the laws, promote the general well-being of the Brazilian people, and preserve the union, the integrity and independence of Brazil." |
| President Lula went on to say that said he would not be deflected from policies to bring more Brazilians out of dire poverty while making it clear he would keep public spending under control. | President Lula went on to say that said he would not be deflected from policies to bring more Brazilians out of dire poverty while making it clear he would keep public spending under control. |
| He also set improved education as a high priority and highlighted the need to reduce the level of urban violence. | He also set improved education as a high priority and highlighted the need to reduce the level of urban violence. |
| His speech came after a week that saw the deaths of more than 20 people in battles between drug traffickers and police in Rio de Janeiro. | His speech came after a week that saw the deaths of more than 20 people in battles between drug traffickers and police in Rio de Janeiro. |
| Tough term | Tough term |
| Thousands of supporters, wearing the bright red T-shirts and caps decorated with the single white star of President Lula's Workers' Party, were in Brasilia to witness the ceremony. | Thousands of supporters, wearing the bright red T-shirts and caps decorated with the single white star of President Lula's Workers' Party, were in Brasilia to witness the ceremony. |
| I'm a faithful believer in his commitment to the poor Lula supporter | |
| But the BBC's Tim Hirsch, in Sao Paulo, says the sparse crowds lining the rain swept route were in marked contrast to the euphoric scenes four years ago when Lula became the first working class president to lead Latin America's biggest nation. | |
| The last 18 months of his first term were plagued by a series of corruption scandals which caused the resignation of several key members of his government. | The last 18 months of his first term were plagued by a series of corruption scandals which caused the resignation of several key members of his government. |
| Nevertheless the president succeeded in getting re-elected with more than 60% of the popular vote. | Nevertheless the president succeeded in getting re-elected with more than 60% of the popular vote. |
| One of his supporters, a former metal worker from Sao Paulo who had made the 560-mile (900km) journey by bus, said the opposition had blocked many of Mr Lula's initiatives to help the poor. | One of his supporters, a former metal worker from Sao Paulo who had made the 560-mile (900km) journey by bus, said the opposition had blocked many of Mr Lula's initiatives to help the poor. |
| "He's had it tough because he's been governing without support of Congress," 64-year-old Mr Alves told the Associated Press. | "He's had it tough because he's been governing without support of Congress," 64-year-old Mr Alves told the Associated Press. |
| "I'm a faithful believer in his commitment to the poor. He is the face of the poor," he added. | "I'm a faithful believer in his commitment to the poor. He is the face of the poor," he added. |
| In recent public opinion polls 52% of Brazilians said that Mr Lula's first term of office was "excellent or good". | In recent public opinion polls 52% of Brazilians said that Mr Lula's first term of office was "excellent or good". |
| Over a third of all those polled said they believe he is the best president the country has ever had. | Over a third of all those polled said they believe he is the best president the country has ever had. |
| Great expectations | Great expectations |
| Correspondents say the president is likely to continue pursuing market-friendly policies while focusing welfare spending on the poorest of the country. | Correspondents say the president is likely to continue pursuing market-friendly policies while focusing welfare spending on the poorest of the country. |
| His "Zero Hunger" programme has been particularly popular. | His "Zero Hunger" programme has been particularly popular. |
| He has expanded it to reach 11 million families who receive money for food each month in exchange for keeping their children in school. | He has expanded it to reach 11 million families who receive money for food each month in exchange for keeping their children in school. |
| But, although he has managed to stabilise the country's economy and bolster social spending for the large sector of society living in poverty, Brazil's growth has dragged behind other Latin American countries. | But, although he has managed to stabilise the country's economy and bolster social spending for the large sector of society living in poverty, Brazil's growth has dragged behind other Latin American countries. |
| President Lula has said he is aiming for annual growth rate of 5% but some analysts think this is unlikely. Most expect it to grow by 3.4% in 2007. | President Lula has said he is aiming for annual growth rate of 5% but some analysts think this is unlikely. Most expect it to grow by 3.4% in 2007. |