First presidency of Lula da Silva

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First presidency of Lula da Silva 1 January 2003 – 1 January 2011[1]
Vice President	José Alencar
Cabinet	See list
Party	Workers'
Election	2002 2006
Seat	Palácio do Planalto
← Fernando H. Cardoso Dilma Rousseff →

This article is part of a series about Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Personal life Early life Education and work Political positions Honours 35th President of Brazil Presidency Cabinet Inaugurations First Second Social and Economic policy Zero Hunger Family Allowance School Stipend Growth Acceleration Program Foreign and Military policy United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti Submarine Development Program 39th President of Brazil Presidency Transition Inauguration Cabinet Trips Ambassadors 2023 Brazilian Congress attack 2023 China visit 2023 South American summit 2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro summit 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty Scandals and controversies Mensalão Operation Car Wash Prison Free Lula movement Presidential elections 1989 1994 1998 2002 2006 2022 Media gallery
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The fist tenure of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as the president of Brazil began on 1 January 2003 when Lula was inaugurated as the 35th president, and ended on 1 January 2011. A Workers' Party candidate, it was his fourth candidacy for this office and after defeating the PSDB candidate, José Serra, with 61.27% of the valid votes in a second round.^[2] Lula was the first former worker to become president of Brazil, and he governed the country for two consecutive terms (2003 until 2007 , and from 2007 until 2011).^[3] In October 2006, Lula was reelected to the presidency, defeating the PSDB candidate Geraldo Alckmin in the second round, obtaining more than 60% of the valid votes against 39.17% for his opponent.^[4] His term in office ended on 1 January 2011. Lula's government ended with record approval from the population, with more than 80% positive ratings.^[5][6][7]

Its main hallmarks were the maintenance of economic stability, the resumption of the country's growth, and the reduction of poverty and social inequality.^[8] His first presidency registered the highest average GDP growth in two decades, around 4.1%, and total growth was 32.62%. Per capita income grew 23.05%, with an average of 2.8%.^[9] The growth was driven by the rise in commodity prices, domestic demand, helped by programs like Bolsa Família and the reduction in international interest rates.^[10][11][12] Despite economic growth, productivity has not increased along with it.^[13] Lula took office with inflation at 12.53% and delivered at 5.90%.^[14]

One of Lula's campaign platforms was the need for constitutional reforms.^[15] A relevant reform that took place during Lula's government was the approval of Constitutional Amendment 45, in 2004, which became known as the "Judiciary Reform".^[16]

His first presidency was also notable for the country's quest to host major sporting events. The 2007 Pan-American Games took place during his mandate. So did the choice of Brazil to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. The decisions generated controversy about the losses^[17][18][19] and legacies of each event.^[20][21][22]

In 2009, the penultimate year of the Lula administration, an annual study conducted by the NGO Transparency International reported that Brazil ranked 75th in a ranking of 180 countries on perceived corruption. The study gave Brazil a score of 3.7, which indicates corruption problems, according to the entity.^[23] Brazil got worse in the ranking between 2002 (score 4.0, 45th in the ranking) and 2009 (score 3.7, 75th in the ranking), having dropped 30 places.^[24] In 2008, the The Economist's Democracy Index ranked Brazil the 41st most democratic country in the world.^[25]