Foreseeing landslide victory, Brazil's Bolsonaro

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil's right-wing presidential front-runner, Jair Bolsonaro, has made a start in the election of ministers in his government, underscoring expectations of a landslide victory in Sunday's runoff election.

The Social Liberal Party (PSL) candidate has already assigned names to several posts, the PSL party chief Gustavo Bebianno said on Tuesday.

A full slate of selections to head ministries and state-owned companies will be announced within 30 days after the election, Bebianno told reporters. The appointments do not require congressional approval.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) and Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA (Eletrobras), Bebianno added.

"The menu already has many names. To avoid speculation, we will only give them after the election, "he said.

Bebianno said central bank President Ilan Goldfajn was a "good name" to continue in the job that Bolsonaro had not ruled him out. Bolsonaro and his choice for finance minister, Paulo Guedes, will make the ultimate decision, Bebianno said.

Controversy surrounding the use of mass online messaging in support of Bolsonaro has failed to derail his substantial lead-left workers Party candidate Fernando Haddad.

An opinion poll polled late on Tuesday showed that Bolsonaro had 57 percent vote support to Haddad's 43 percent, slightly lower than Bolsonaro's 59 percent to 41 percent lead over Haddad in the polling firm's previous survey.

Bolsonaro has denied Haddad's accusations that he asked supporters to fund mass messaging on the mobile messaging application that WhatsApp, which would be a violation of campaign laws. Brazil's top electoral court last Friday approved the opening of a probe into the matter.

But Bolsonaro, a seven-term congressman, has also gone to the forefront of the problem. WhatsApp owner Facebook Inc on said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said said