Unveiling Lula da Silva

By Luiz Leitão

I have no recollection of other Brazilian writer’s book – if any- to raise as many comments as O que sei de Lula (What I know about Lula), by José Nêumanne, in so short a period since its release, in August, 2011.

The author,  journalist and writer was former Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s acquaintance since his early times, long before the protagonist became a political dynamo, narrating his history from childhood to his last term as the South American country’s President in a 522-page book.

Mr. Nêumanne, in a flawless, rather stylish text, describes Mr. Lula’s intelligence and unprecedented communicating skills, however used solely on his own behalf.

The unexpected, magnificent biography reveals the very inner, selfish personality of the most popular Brazilian President of all times; his connections with rightwing politicians and, most important of all, Mr. Lula’s ingrained pragmatism.

With this book, whose sales are skyrocketing, Brazil gets to know the real, unveiled Lula da Silva and his innermost secrets.

Sensitive secrets, as per the author’s assertion when interviewed for Brazilian newspaper O Globo: “There are more things I know about Mr. Lula, which I can’t prove. If I disclose them, I might be shot down, or prosecuted”.

Perhaps readers in many other countries would like to know the real Lula da Silva, this political phenomenon who may be back in charge by 2014.

If so, this is the real history of the reformer who didn’t do any, of the unspoken conservative politician, at least as many as his today’s allies, enemies in the past and former Presidents José Sarney and Fernardo Collor de Mello.  

Luiz Leitão da Cunha, journalist

São Paulo, Brazil