The magic of Lula

摘要

Four years ago, the election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former lathe-operator and trade-union leader, as president of the world's fourth-biggest democracy aroused the fears of some investors and the hopes of many poor Brazilians. His Workers' Party had long campaigned for socialism. Once in power, however, "Lula" showed himself to be a pragmatist. He is all but certain to seek a second term in October's presidential election, and polls suggest he may win. In a rare interview this week (see pages 57-59), Lula gives his own account of what he has achieved so far and where he is going. What should outsiders make of his record?