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BRAZIL: Jailed ex-President Lula bows out of presidential race

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BRAZIL: Jailed ex-President Lula bows out of presidential race

Jailed former President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has reportedly jettisoned his ambition to contest in the forthcoming presidential elections according to reports.

Inside sources of his Workers Party say Lula will discontinue with his legal battle to run in the Oct. 7 election and allow his party to announce running mate Fernando Haddad as its candidate.

Last week, Lula was barred from contesting the forthcoming presidential elections schedule for October.

The fate of embattled Lula was so decided by a top electoral court because of his corruption conviction.

Read also: ABUSE CRISIS: Former top Vatican official calls for Pope’s resignation

During the session, Supreme Court Justice Luis Roberto Barroso cast the first vote against Lula, saying the ruling was “very simple” because the law forbids candidates whose conviction has been upheld on appeal.

The justices eventually voted 6-1 against the once hugely popular leader, who has been incarcerated since April for accepting a bribe.

72-year-old Lula was found guilty of graft in July 2017 and is serving a 12-year sentence for accepting a luxury seaside apartment as a bribe from a construction firm while he was in power.

 

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