At White House meet, Joe Biden and Brazil President Lula vow to protect democracy

US President Joe Biden and Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met at the White House on Friday to restart relations after the turbulent presidency of Donald Trump supporter Jair Bolsonaro ended. The two presidents spoke to the media before their late-afternoon Oval Office meeting to discuss their common beliefs towards combating climate change and defending democracy from the rise of authoritarianism.

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"Both our nations, strong democracies have been tested of late, very much tested. Our institutions are put in jeopardy. Both the United States and Brazil. Democracy prevailed for both the United States and Brazil. Democracy prevailed," Biden said at the White House meet. 

"We reject political violence and we put great value in our democratic institutions. Our shared values and the strong ties between our people make Brazil, the United States, especially here in the big global challenges – they put us on the same page, and particularly, especially in climate crisis," Biden continued. 

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Meanwhile, Lula expressed will to reposition Brazil in the new world and geopolitics. He thanked Biden for "solidarity and for acknowledging my ... When I was sworn in office." He acknowledged Biden's "posturing, the defence of democracy. And last but not the least, to congratulate you for your speech, the State of the Union two days ago."

Referring to his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, Lula pointed out that the former president "did not enjoy to keep international relations with any country. His world started and ended with fake news. In the morning, afternoon and at night. It seems that he despised international relations."

“First, never more allow that there should be a new chapter written again on the Capitol invasion here. Never more should happen what happened in Brazil, with the invasion of the National Congress, the President’s Palace, and the Supreme Court building," he said

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Bolsonaro flew to Florida two days before his term ended on Jan. 1, having challenged the results of the Oct. 30 runoff election that he narrowly lost to Lula. Days later, a violent group of election-denying Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil's presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court.

Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula in the 30th October runoff election, boarded a flight to Florida two days before his tenure came to an end on 1st January. He had contested the outcome of the election. 

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