Brazil's Lula to Announce Decision to Run for Presidency Next Year
Former Brazilian left-wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will announce next year his decision concerning running for presidency.
Brazil's left-wing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva disclosed on Friday that he would announce his decision whether or not to run for President in October 2022 at the start of next year.
"I've been saying I'm not a candidate because I will only decide on my possible candidacy at the beginning of next year," said Lula at a press conference in the capital Brasilia.
"I haven't decided yet because I will decide when the time is right and I will talk to everyone."
Lula, whose decision on his possible candidacy has been eagerly awaited, spent the week meeting political leaders in the capital, Brasilia.
The former trade union leader was incapable to run for the last election in 2018 as he was serving a jail sentence for corruption.
His eligibility was renewed when the supreme court overturned his conviction in March.
Lula expressed that next year's election would be an opportunity to repair the country.
The former president stressed that Brazilians should elect "someone that respects democracy and doesn't say stupid things the whole time," in a clear reference to Bolsonaro.
"He should shut his mouth and govern."
The latest opinion poll from the Datafolha institute on September 17 gave Lula, who was president from 2003 till 2010, 44 percent voter intentions compared to just 26 percent for Bolsonaro.