The third time that Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has served as president of Brazil, he has taken the oath of office.

The well-known left-wing politician Lula, who served as president from 2003 and 2010, also defeated Jair Bolsonaro in the election of October.

Lula promised to reconstruct a nation that was in “awful ruins” in his inaugural speech.

He criticized his predecessor’s policies, who left for the US on Friday to skip the handover ceremony.

Since early in the morning, a sea of Lula fans had assembled in front of Congress, dressed in the red of his Workers’ Party. They traveled for both a celebration and to witness their leader being sworn in.

As part of a music festival called “Lulapalooza,” more than 60 performers, including Samba great Martinho da Vila, were scheduled to take the stage on two enormous platforms draped in the country’s flag.

One banner, which was held by a man dressed as Lula and wearing a presidential sash, stated, “Love has defeated hate.”

As she waited in line for the festivities on Sunday, another supporter of the future leader remarked, “Brazil needed this change, this transformation.

Juliana Barreto, a native of Lula’s home state of Pernambuco, told the BBC that her nation had previously been “a disaster.”

Lula’s electoral comeback in Brazil is astounding.

In images: Jair Bolsonaro is defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

How the renowned yellow jersey of Brazil became politicized

Before arriving at the Congress building, where the swearing-in took place to kick off the official inauguration ceremony, Lula and the incoming Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin paraded through the city in an open-top convertible.

The guys have been choosing their cabinet and appointing allies to important state-owned companies over the past few days.

Lula promised to “rebuild the nation and construct a Brazil of all, for all” shortly after taking office in an effort to inspire hope in the Brazilian people.

He pulled out his hanky on multiple occasions. His most moving speech was to the Brazilian people following the swearing-in ceremony, when he broke down in tears while discussing individuals who ply their trade at traffic lights. Even Lula would not have imagined that this day—a return to the top position after 20 years, despite serving time in jail after being found guilty of corruption—would ever arrive. In 2021, the convictions were subsequently overturned.

His message to Congress focused a lot on cooperation and rebuilding. The two terms are essential in such a politically and socially polarized society that has been severely affected by the pandemic.

Lula is aware that his greatest struggle will be persuading those who believe he is a dishonest politician who belongs in prison that he actually does belong back in the presidential palace and can lead them as well.

He promised to reverse the effects of his predecessor’s administration, which he claimed included cutting support for health care, education, and Amazon rainforest preservation.

He also pledged to promptly repeal Mr. Bolsonaro’s divisive gun measures, which was met with thunderous applause from those in Congress who were watching.

Lula continued by saying that his government would not act in “a spirit of retribution,” but rather that individuals who had committed mistakes would bear responsibility for their actions.

He singled out Mr. Bolsonaro’s Covid-19 policies in particular, accusing him of orchestrating a “genocide” of fatalities in Brazil during the pandemic that required a thorough investigation.

One of Brazil’s most well-known climate activists, Marina Silva, was reappointed to lead the environment and climate ministry in another notable policy shift from the Bolsonaro administration. She will be held accountable for fulfilling Lula’s promise, reaffirmed during his address, to achieve “zero deforestation” in the Amazon by 2030.

When Mr. Bolsonaro was in office, the climate in Brasilia was very different. Many individuals were seen carrying signs or donning T-shirts that said “Love conquers hate,” which was an allusion to the thesis that many believed Mr. Bolsonaro had developed.

But the inauguration today also placed a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusivity. Mr. Bolsonaro forwent performing his final official responsibility of handing over the presidential sash, so Eni Souza, a garbage collector, was left to do the honors. A black youngster, a disabled influencer, and an indigenous leader were also there next to Lula. It was a significant representation that would endure in this frequently prejudiced nation. Brasilia’s state government sent “100%” of its police force, or around 8,000 officers, to the city out of concern that some Bolsonaro supporters could try to scuttle the proceedings.

Early on Sunday, a guy was apprehended while attempting to enter the inaugural area while carrying pyrotechnics and a knife, according to the military police of Brazil.

Authorities detained a Bolsonaro fan last week who was accused of setting off explosives on a gasoline tanker near an airport in the city on Christmas Eve. Prior to Lula’s inauguration, the individual claimed he wanted to “sow mayhem.”

Additionally, other supporters of the outgoing leader are still gathered outside the army’s headquarters, where they are inciting the troops to stage a coup. On Thursday, police tried to evict the protesters, but they were fiercely resisted and they fled.

While asking his followers to “prove we are different from the other side, that we respect the standards and the Constitution,” Mr. Bolsonaro has denounced the protests against his defeat.