Brazil Workers' Party chooses jailed ex-president Lula as candidate

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Brazil's leftist Workers' Party announced on Saturday that for the sixth time in its history, ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be its candidate in the October 7 presidential election despite him being imprisoned for corruption

In a message read aloud to the party convention in Sao Paulo, Lula urged “a ceaseless battle for democracy.” Although serving a 12-year sentence for corruption, Lula, 72, remains by far the frontrunner in opinion polls.

A person holds a sign reading "Free Lula" during the national convention of the Workers' Party (PT) in Sao Paulo, Brazil on August 04, 2018. /VCG Photo

Lula in the message also accused judge Sergio Moro, who presided over the Lava Jato case, of trying to "silence" him in order to stop his presidential run.

This is the first time in Brazil's history that a person in prisoner has been named as a presidential candidate.

The decision was made by the party's 600 delegates during its national convention held in Sao Paulo on Saturday.

Jair Bolsonaro, candidate of the Social Liberal Party, is in second place in the polls.

This combination of pictures created on August 3, 2018 shows Brazilian presidential candidates for October's national elections: (Up L to R) Brazilian former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for the Workers Party (PT), in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 28, 2016; Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles for the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) in Brasilia, on June 29, 2017; Ciro Gomes, for the Democratic Labour Party (PDT), in Brasilia on July 4, 2018. (Bottom L to R) Geraldo Alckmin, for the Social Democratic Party (PSDB), in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 18, 2018; Marina Silva, for the REDE Party, in Brasilia on July 4, 2018 and Jair Bolsonaro, for the Social Liberal Party (PSL), in Brasilia on June 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

In Brasilia, center-left environmental campaigner Marina Silva was crowned by her Rede party. Also in the capital, former Sao Paulo governor and establishment heavyweight Geraldo Alckmin secured the nod from the center-right Brazilian Social Democratic Party

Passing the torch?

The Workers' Party must formally submit Lula's name to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on Aug. 15.

The court will decide whether to allow Lula as a candidate and it doesn’t look good: under current law anyone losing an appeal of a criminal conviction is not allowed on the ballot.

File photo: Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva dies his neck during a rally of Brazilian leftist parties at Circo Voador in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 02, 2018. /VCG Photo

So despite the leftist leader’s almost cult-like backing, there was close attention paid to the Workers’ Party choice for vice president — a figure who could end up standing in for the imprisoned leader.

One high-profile possibility is former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad. A powerful politician, he has signed on to Lula’s legal team, giving him easy access to the prison, and he would be well placed to inherit Lula’s electorate.

But the party appears to be torn, with some fearful of any move that might suggest giving up on the main goal of somehow getting Lula back into the presidential palace. Despite expectations that the issue might be resolved at the convention, no announcement was made.

The problem facing all candidates is the level of voter disgust and apathy.

Supporters hold signs while attending the Workers' Party (PT) national convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

Two polls show that 33 or 41 percent of voters are undecided or not participating in an election that doesn’t include Lula. If Lula was on the ballot, that number would drop but still account for about a quarter of voters.

If the court rules in Lula's favor, it will be his sixth time as a presidential candidate. He served as Brazil's president from 2003 to 2010.

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency