Brazil: Lula's Legacy

As President Lula leaves office, what has been the legacy of one of the most popular politicians in Brazilian history?

On 1 January, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won Brazil's presidency with a landmark win in 2002, leaves office with record approval ratings and a successful economic record.

In this two-part series, the BBC's Paulo Cabral travels to the two places that marked Lula's life – the poor region in the northeast where the president was born, and the industrial suburb of Sao Paulo where he made his reputation.

Paulo finds a Brazil with a rapidly expanding middle class, but with many areas still in need of government help.

He visits impressive infrastructure projects, but encounters big bottlenecks. He talks to everyone from IT entrepreneurs to illiterate farm-workers.

Is life now better for everyone in Brazil?

Part One

A country of aspiration

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In part one Paulo Cabral examines how the middle-class has boomed since the economic stability of the 1990s.

Access to credit has allowed Brazilians greater access to money and education – more people are now consumers. Even the poorest part of the country, the northeast, has developed fast – although help from the state remains essential.

First broadcast on 27 December, 2010

Part Two

A country under construction

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In part two Paulo Cabral investigates the multi-billon programme of infrastructure development under Lula.

Brazil has undergone drastic economic development but many gaps still remain. Paulo finds out where the progress has been slow, and how much is a result of a lack of joined-up thinking about education and social reforms.

First broadcast on 3 January, 2011