With Lula Absent, Four Candidates Compete for Spot Against Bolsonaro, Who Leads in the Polls

01/31/2018 - 10h35

Research conducted by the Datafolha Institute following the second-instance conviction of Lula da Silva, who is currently ineligible, indicates that if the former president is barred from the race, then four other candidates will be disputing a place in the runoff against Jair Bolsonaro (PSC).

The survey, which took place on January 29th and 30th, indicates that if the former president is barred from the race due to the Clean Record Bill (Ficha Limpa), then the congressman from Rio de Janeiro, Jair Bolsonaro, would lead in the polls with 18% of the vote.

He appears ahead of Marina Silva (Rede), who has 13% of the vote, and Ciro Gomes (PDT), who has 10% of the vote.

Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB) and Luciano Huck (Independent) both have 8% of the vote. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2%.

Despite being ahead, Mr. Bolsonaro's ascent came to a halt in all possible electoral scenarios that the survey simulated.

Mr. Bolsonaro would also lose in runoffs against either Lula (49% of the vote against 32%) and Marina Silva (42% against 32%).

The fact that former president Lula was convicted of money laundering and corruption did not affect his performance in the polls. The Workers' Party (PT) leader currently counts on 37% of the vote, the same rate it had back in November.

The candidacy of Globo TV host Luciano Huck was once again brought up in the polls. Whenever his name came up, he had at least 6% of the vote.

Former president Fernando Collor, who announced that he would run for president earlier this month, had 3% of the vote.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Eduardo Anizelli/Folhapress
	Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a demonstration in Sao Paulo