Lula sworn in as Brazil's president

By Bala Chambers

BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Brazilian politician Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in for a third term as Brazil's president in the capital Brasilia.

Lula arrived at the Sunday's ceremony in a presidential Rolls Royce, closely flanked by security officers, alongside the Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin.

Prior to the ceremony, officials paid tribute to the country's footballing icon Pele who passed away this week. Ahead of the ceremony, police detained a man with a knife and fireworks attempting to enter Lula's inauguration.

On Oct. 30, Lula beat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a tight race, garnering 50.9% of the vote compared with Bolsonaro’s 49.1%, according to Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court.

Lula had been a candidate during the 2018 presidential election until graft and money laundering convictions curtailed his political aspirations. He was sent to prison and Bolsonaro won the presidency. In 2019, Lula was released from prison after his convictions were overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing him to run again for office.

Lula was an influential figure during the "pink tide" era -- a period where many Latin American countries turned to the left.

The former union leader's political rise to presidency marks a new wave of regional leftist leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Peru.