Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will turn 81 on Tuesday, marking a milestone for the man who won re-election as Brazil's president. Lula became the first leftist leader of Brazil in nearly half a century in 2003, following his earlier tenure as president from January 2003 to December 2010.
The president founded the Workers' Party (PT) in 1980 after leading a 100,000-strong Metalworkers' Union in 1975. Lula helped some 44 million people with the Bolsa Familia programme during his political career.
The leader told the BBC in September 2025 that he had no relationship with Donald Trump, stating, "he's not emperor of the world". Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods in July 2025, while the US imposed 25% tariffs on most goods external from Brazil in July 2026.
Lula stated, "Brazil does not fit into anyone's backyard" regarding the country's international standing. The president's path to power included a period of legal turmoil where he was convicted of corruption and money laundering in July 2017.
He was sentenced to more than 9 years in prison, a term that increased on appeal to 12 years. Lula was released in 2019 after a Supreme Court ruling that the incarceration had been illegal, having served just over 18 months.
His convictions were annulled in 2021, allowing him to beat Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 election and re-enter office in 2023. The president was convicted of accepting a beachside flat as a bribe from engineering firm OAS.
Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year jail sentence. Lula's early life included working as a peanut seller and shoe-shine boy, and he learned to read at age 10.
In 1981, Lula met with Lech Walesa in Rome, Italy. Lula was diagnosed with throat cancer after his second term but doctors declared him cured in 2012.
Brazil remains an active member of the Brics.
