Lula has won the Brazilian elections. The former president defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro after reaching 50.9% of votes.
During his first period as president, Lula was incredibly popular thanks to his policies which lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty.
However, after spending time in jail for corruption, his victory is controversial. Backers of his opponent, Bolsonaro, accuse him of being a criminal and a “thief.”
Here is some useful vocabulary to help you understand Lula’s victory!
Vocabulary
Incumbent



Incumbent – /ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/ – (of an official or regime) currently holding office
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has defeated the incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro in the Brazilian presidential election
Bitter



Bitter – /ˈbɪtə/ – (of a conflict, argument, or opponent) full of anger and acrimony
After a bitter campaign, Lula won 50.9% of Brazilian votes
Stunning



Stunning – /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ – shocking or very impressive
Lula’s victory is a stunning comeback for the former president who was in prison for corruption only a few years ago
To annul



To annul – /əˈnʌl/ – to officially announce that something such as a law, agreement, or marriage no longer exists
After spending 580 days in jail, Lula’s convictions were annulled
Poverty



Poverty – /ˈpɒvəti/ – the state of being extremely poor
Lula was incredibly popular during his first period as president as he helping lift millions of people out of poverty
Backer



Backer /ˈbakə/ – a person, institution, or country that supports someone or something
The result is likely to anger Bolsonaro’s millions of backers, who argue Lula is corrupt and “a thief”
Opposition



Opposition – /ɒpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ – resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument
However, Bolsonaro’s allies won a majority in the Congress, meaning Lula will face strong opposition to his policies
Unity



Unity /ˈjuːnɪti/ – the state of being united or joined as a whole
Lula’s tactic of creating a “unity” campaign involving politicians from different political parties seems to have been successful
Who do you think of Lula?
Try using this vocabulary to make some sentences in the comments!



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