World Economic Forum honors Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for model leadership

Davos honors Brazil’s president for his leadership

DAVOS, Switzerland — The World Economic Forum has honored Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his “global statesmanship” — a ceremony the leader couldn’t attend for health reasons.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim received the award Friday on Silva’s behalf and read out a speech by the president, who said he viewed the honor as an “award for Brazil.”

Silva canceled his trip to the Davos conference on Wednesday night after suffering hypertension. He was hospitalized overnight in Brazil and released Thursday.

The forum said the award was for Silva’s eight years of model leadership. A former union leader who went to work as a child, Silva rose to become the country’s 35th president in 2003 and has presided over an economic resurgence in Brazil.

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