Lula, Bolsonaro trade barbs in possible preview of Brazil election Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the country's current president, Jair Bolsonaro, on Wednesday both fired an early starting gun on a 2022 election set to be dominated by the raging pandemic, a weak economy and deep political polarization. Social Sharing Thomson Reuters · Posted: Mar 10, 2021 10:10 PM ET | Last Updated: March 11 Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks at the Metalworkers Union headquarters in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, on Wednesday.(Andre Penner/The Associated Press) Brazilians got a preview Wednesday of how two powerful political rivals may battle to lead their country next year.