A battered car mounted with oversized loudspeakers greets visitors to Garanhuns, a provincial city in north-east Brazil. “How we’ve missed voting for Lula!” a recorded message blares as the vehicle trundles around with little regard for the racket.
Nostalgia for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva permeates the municipality where the leftwing former president was born 76 years ago. For much of the local population, Lula is a hero who delivered unprecedented opportunities during two terms as president between 2003 and 2010. Their support for him in October’s presidential election is a given.
“Lula is a darling of the region. We’re rooting for him because he was a president for the poor. We’re waiting for his return,” said Nivaldo Leão de Lima, a local bar owner.