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CURITIBA, Brazil (Reuters) – Former jailed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will cast his election on October 7 in the legal battle and allow his workers' party to announce his team-mate Fernando Haddad as a candidate, party sources said. told Reuters.
PHOTO: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addresses attendees at a rally organized by left-wing political parties in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 2, 2018. REUTERS / Ricardo Moraes / File Photo
Lula had hoped that the Supreme Court would accept an appeal for more time to overthrow the leader of the Workers Party (PT) after the Brazilian high electoral court banned him last week because of a corruption conviction. first name.
Two sources familiar with Lula's decision said Haddad would become the official candidate with an announcement in front of the federal police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba, where the left-wing icon has been jailed since April.
Despite appeals still pending before the Supreme Court, Lula decided that it was time to hand over to Haddad within the deadline set by the court and not to risk that the votes for his party's ticket be canceled by the court. electoral court.
Lula's letter, anointing Haddad, will be read to supporters who have camped outside the police building for five months to protest his imprisonment.
Lula and Haddad gathered Monday afternoon in his room and began writing the letter, he said.
The sources asked not to be named because they were not allowed to speak publicly about Lula's projects.
Lula was president from 2003 to 2010 and remains by far the most popular politician in Brazil. But he is not eligible for the function of the Brazilian "Clean Slate" law, which prohibits candidates from standing if they have convictions confirmed on appeal.
Lula's strategy has been to keep his candidacy alive for as long as possible, and then work to transfer his support to Haddad, barely known in many parts of Brazil.
A Datafolha survey conducted on Monday showed that the transfer had begun. Although still a single figure, support for Haddad has gone from 4% to 9%, the biggest gain among the 13 presidential candidates.
Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right politician running on an anti-corruption platform of public order, leads the race with 24%, but is in intensive care due to a stab. almost fatal at a rally last week. [nL2N1VX00G]
Reportage by Lisandra Paraguassú; Written by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Michael Perry
