|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lula Re-elected in Brazil |
| Wins over 60 percent in early returns |
|
Antonio Carlos Rix (carlosrix)  |
 Email Article
 Print Article
|
|
 
|
Published 2006-10-30 11:40 (KST) |
|
|
|
Election day in Brazil the polls have just closed (10 p.m. Local time, 10 a.m. KST). With 128 million votes counted, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has won 68 percent of total valid votes against 39 percent for Geraldo Alkimim.
This morning Brazilians went to the polls. People could vote wearing t-shirts or buttons from their candidates, but it had to be a silent manifestation as no one could advertise publicly or be campaigning during the day anywhere. So I could silently let others know may voting intention, but I could not tell them -- they had to read it on my T-shirt!
 |
TODAY'S TOP STORIES |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
FROM THE SECTION |
|
|
|
|
|
 |  | |  In front of voting place in Campinas SP - clean election | | | ©2006 Antonio Carlos Rix | All the indicators until yesterday showed that Lula would win, but he was also expected to win on the first ballot and he did not, so we had to wait. A clear distinction is set in the country in this election: it is the north against the south. While Geraldo Alkimim won in Sao Paulo and most southern states, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva did the same in the northern ones. In cities like Manaus far up north Lula garnered more than 80 percent of all votes.
In Brazil this will not divide the country or cause any civil disorder. The only dispute is over electronic polling devices. Tomorrow we will go to work knowing who the president is and hopping he does a good job, that is it. We already know that whoever it may be we better work hard to earn our living, for none is going to do it for us.
I went voting this morning myself; it was a quick process indeed. The electronic vote is really a nice thing. People trust it and are in fact proud to have one of the world's most modern election processes. As today, the only vote was for president, all you had to do is type 13 for Lula or 45 for Alkimim, press FIM (end), and it was done. Also there were no papers on the ground in front of the electoral place.
|  | | | Barbara Campos - on the far left - gave us an interview | | | ©2006 Antonio Carlos Rix | Barbara Campos told us what it was like [listen to the attached audio interview above]. She was one of the many called by the government to work the polls on election day. (If you are called you must go, but most people enjoy the opportunity.)
As of 9:32 p.m. local time (9:32 a.m. KST), Lula registered 67,963,329 of votes, against 37,383,081 million Alckmin, with 98.27 percent of the counted votes. Alkimim has already called Lula to congratulate him for his re-election and has also spoken to the people about his loss.
"This is part of democracy, I traveled all over the country, I met the people and have received their warmth and empowering welcome. Now I wish President Lula good luck for the next four years," said Alkimim. "We will continue to work hard for Brazil,” he said mentioning his party the PSDB.
In his victory speech, Lula said that the battle against poverty will have priority in next the four years. "We will continue to govern Brazil for all, but we will continue to give more attention to the most needy. The poor persons will have preference in our government," said Lula, in speech in the Intercontinental Hotel, the central region of Sao Paulo.
The people of Brazil have expressed their desire; 60 percent of the electorate have elected Lula. The major concern all over the country is the creation of new jobs, education, security, and health care. Brazil needs to keep on going and growing.
|
|
|
|
|
©2006 OhmyNews
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
How worried are you about the H1N1 influenza virus? |
|
 |
| * Vote to see the result. |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSS
Del.icio.us
Digg 
reddit
Y! MyWeb
Comments Note: Kindly refrain from personal attacks and profanity.
.jpg)
