Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated his 80th birthday with a vibrant display of Carnival spirit in Salvador, Bahia on Saturday, February 14th. The President and First Lady Janja da Silva enjoyed the festivities, taking in a performance by the popular band BaianaSystem.
The couple watched the bloco, or street band, from the governor Jerônimo Rodrigues’s hospitality suite, according to Poder360. Videos circulating online, including one from YouTube, show Lula enthusiastically enjoying the music and waving to the crowds.
Lula arrived in Salvador after participating in the Galo da Madrugada parade in Recife earlier that day, as reported by Diário de Pernambuco. He is scheduled to continue to Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to watch the parade of the Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school, which will be paying tribute to him.
The President’s appearance at Carnival underscores the cultural importance of the event in Brazil and his continued engagement with the public during his term.
