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It's Lula Forever in Brazil's Northeast

By Richard Lapper

Jail and corruption charges haven’t dimmed enthusiasm for the former leader among his most loyal base.

SALVADOR, Brazil – This is Lula country. Still.

Brazil’s Northeast, the country’s poorest region, remains an enthusiastic hotbed of support for its native son Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who as president from 2003 to 2010 oversaw a historic improvement in living standards that was most pronounced here.

Even though economic boom turned to bust under Lula’s chosen successor Dilma Rousseff, even though Lula himself was ensnared in the “Car Wash” corruption scandal, even though Lula has been in jail on corruption charges since April, and even though Brazilian law stipulates that...

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