Former Brazilian president takes to the street to challenge corruption allegations
Today, supporters of Brazil’s former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will protest against his corruption charges, claiming the prosecution is politically biased. If his appeal fails, Lula will be ineligible to run for re-election this October and could face up to 10 years in jail.
Despite facing imprisonment for receiving over a million dollars in bribes, Lula is championed by working-class voters and is currently the front-runner for the October election; recent polling suggests he would capture over 30% of the vote.
Regardless of his popularity, Brazil’s appeals court is unlikely to overturn Lula’s conviction when it meets on January 24. Instead, look to former Environment Minister Marina Silva to represent the left-wing Workers Party.
A race between Silva and far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro in a second round would be likely, with both drawing a hard line at corruption. However, expect Lula and his supporters to explore every angle before giving up his chance at the presidency.
Delve deeper: Operation Car Wash: cleaning out Brazilian corruption
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