We need to talk about Lula.

Everything, or almost everything, has already been said about Lula, as well as the opposite of what is said. That he is a populist politician, that he is involved in corruption, that he is a conciliator of classes, that he is an outdated politician.

But Lula continues to surprise, both his followers and his adversaries. He surprised everyone in 1989, when he sowed popular support through the "caravans of citizenship," until he reached the second round and almost was elected president of Brazil.

He surprised many when he released the Letter to the Brazilians and the "Lulinha, peace and love" image as a way to triumph in his last attempt to preside over Brazil. He surprised many with the fiscal adjustment with which he began his government, until it became clear that he was doing it to prioritize social policies – the key to the spectacular success of his government.

He surprised many when he forged an alliance with the PMDB, securing support for his government's social policies, for restoring the active role of the State, and for a sovereign foreign policy.

He surprised everyone by implementing the most efficient policy for recovering economic development combined with the broadest process of social inclusion.

It was surprising when, threatened with impeachment by the right wing, he called on popular movements to support his government and managed to get the opposition to back down.

It was surprising when he didn't let himself be stifled by the opposition's attempt to stifle his government and was re-elected in 2006, thanks to his government's social policies. It was surprising when he made the Northeast, previously always captured by right-wing clientelism, the strongest bastion of the left, because it benefited from policies that greatly changed the lives of millions of people.

It was surprising when he emerged onto the world stage as the most important political leader on a global scale.

It was surprising when he resisted pressure to amend the Constitution and run for another term. It was surprising when he nominated Dilma and it was surprising when he managed to get her elected.

He surprised and continues to surprise. While some try to push him towards the image of a past-past politician, Lula travels the country, reinforcing the idea that no one, not even close, has the popular support that he has. It is surprising when he manages to get broad sectors of the youth to express their identification with his leadership and the achievements of his government.

It is surprising how he openly confronts all the cowardly accusations spread by the media and sectors of the Judiciary, challenging them to prove his guilt and throwing the evidence of his innocence in their faces.

It is surprising when he reveals a knowledge of the country like no one else has, in the details and in the broad outlines and dilemmas of Brazil. It is surprising when he maintains and even expands a range of conversations with very different sectors of society – from the MST (Landless Workers' Movement) to sectors of big business.

It is surprising when it manages to combine a vision deeply aligned with those at the bottom of the social ladder, with a national sentiment that encompasses the interests of the entire country.

It is surprising how he demonstrates leadership skills across sectors of different age groups, from different regions of the country, with diverse interests, which he manages to bring together in a comprehensive discourse.

We need to talk about Lula, the real Lula, this very simple person who, at the same time, is capable of addressing the most complex issues directly and with concrete proposals.

We need to talk about Lula, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the real Lula, affable in his dealings and tough in his fight, open to new perspectives and the demands of the broadest sectors of society.

To speak of Lula as the supreme leader of the Brazilian popular movement, the only leader capable of reunifying the country around a project to resume economic development with income distribution, to restore Brazil's prestige in the world, and to recover the legitimacy of the government and the self-esteem of Brazilians.

Lula surprised everyone by traveling through the Brazilian Northeast, visiting over 100 cities in 20 days, giving more than 100 speeches, fostering the most gigantic process of popular mobilization and awareness that the Brazilian people have ever had the opportunity to access.

We need to talk about Lula, understand the reasons for his leadership power over the people, his formidable interaction with the people, understand why he is the only popular leader in the country today. We need to understand what he means to the people and to Brazil. Without that, we will understand neither Lula, nor the people, nor Brazil.