Lula da Silva was born to a peasant family in one of northeastern Brazil 's most impoverished areas and migrated as a young man to a city near São Paulo , where he worked as a metalworker , losing his left pinky finger in the process . Lula da Silva calls announcement `` the greatest gift that a president could have '' Brazil 's president rose from metalworker to union organizer to politician . His election to the presidency in 2001 came after three unsuccessful tries . Rio 's hosting of the Olympics was his first major political victory, and he won re-election with more than 50 percent of the vote.
Lula da Silva calls announcement `` the greatest gift that a president could have '' Brazil 's president rose from metalworker to union organizer to politician . His election to the presidency in 2001 came after three unsuccessful tries . Rio 's hosting of the Olympics was his first major political victory, and he won re-election with more than 50 percent of the vote.