Former governor of the state of Sao Paulo, Mr. Alckmin, 69, was however a long-time opponent of the former left-wing president (2003-2010), who beat him in the second round in 2006.
The announcement came during a meeting in Sao Paulo which sealed the alliance between the Workers’ Party (PT) of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB, centre-left), recently rallied by Geraldo Alckmin .
We need Alckmin’s and mine’s experience to get Brazil back on its feet
said Lula, 76, at a press conference after the meeting.
I’m sure the PT will approve your name as running mate.
he added, giving Mr. Alckmin some companheiro
the equivalent of comrade
for leftist activists in Brazil.
Lula’s candidacy is an open secret: the former metallurgist has already been in campaign mode for several months.
An official announcement on April 30
But he must remain vague in his remarks so as not to infringe the electoral legislation, the official campaign only starting on August 16.
For the press, Lula could officially announce his candidacy on April 30.
According to a poll published last month by the benchmark institute Datafolha, Lula is credited with 43% of the voting intentions, against 26% for the far-right president Jair Bolsonaro in the 1st round, on October 2.
Reassure the business community
Anesthetist Geraldo Alckmin took part in 1988 in the founding of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), a historic center-right party which governed the country under the presidency of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995-2002).
Candidate for the presidency in 2018, he had obtained less than 5% of the votes in the first round.
Armed with an image of a solid manager, Mr. Alckmin, who governed the state of Sao Paulo twice (2001-2006 and 2011-2018) must enable Lula to broaden his electoral base in the center and reassure the business circles.
During the press conference in Sao Paulo, Alckmin promised to contribute to the reconstruction
and the redemocratization
from Brazil, in the face of a government that undermines democracy and the institutions
.
two forces [politiques] to different projects can unite as long as they have the same principles, to meet the needs of the people
added Lula, calling it a civilized rivalry
the relationship he had with his running mate in the past.
The UN warns of the risk of violence
Political violence is destroying Brazilian democracy
said a UN special rapporteur on Friday, showing his concern six months before a presidential election which is announced very polarized
.
My biggest concern is that there is violence during the electoral process and that some question the legitimacy of the results
declared at a press conference Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, special rapporteur of the United Nations on the right to peaceful assembly.
This Togolese jurist, who has just completed a 12-day official visit to Brazil, announced that he would submit a preliminary report on Monday.
A duel of titans is looming between President Bolsonaro and ex-President Lula.
Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly criticized the electronic ballot box system, deeming it fraudulent
without providing proof and raising fears that he will not recognize the result of the presidential election in the event of defeat.
A Bolsonaro technique
After the invasion of the Capitol in Washington in January 2021, Mr. Bolsonaro had warned that Brazil would an even worse problem than in the United States
if he continued to use this system.
President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia.
Photo: Reuters/UESLEI MARCELINO
Discussions must be based on facts
to avoid create a climate of insecurity
around the election, said the UN rapporteur, without mentioning the name of Jair Bolsonaro.
According to him, the state has the task of avoiding any discrimination, disinformation and hate speech
during the electoral process.
Mr. Voule also spoke of the assassination of the black municipal councilor of Rio de Janeiro Marielle Franco, who was shot dead in 2018.
The alleged shooter has been arrested, but the investigation has still not made it possible to identify the sponsors of this crime.
This case must be clarified, to ensure that a black candidate can participate in elections in complete safety
estimated Mr. Voule.
