PRESIDENT Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took center stage in Brazil’s Independence Day celebrations on September 7, 2023.
The event marked the 201st anniversary of Brazil’s liberation from Portuguese rule in 1822. President Lula presided over a grand parade in the capital, Brasilia, flanked by military commanders.
Accompanied by the First Lady, Rosangela da Silva, President Lula arrived at the esplanade of ministries in an open convertible, wearing the presidential sash.
The couple greeted the crowd but refrained from making speeches during the event.
The parade highlighted four key themes: peace and sovereignty, science and technology, health and vaccination, and the defense of the Amazon.
These themes emphasized national unity, democracy, and the relationship between civil power and the armed forces.
In a televised address the night before Independence Day, President Lula emphasized unity, declaring that September 7 should be a day “not of hate nor of fear, but of unity.” he stressed the importance of celebrating Brazil’s independence as a reminder of the nation’s unity, asserting that there is “only one” Brazil.
