Former President of the Federal Supreme Court Joaquim Barbosa Withdraws from Brazilian Election

05/09/2018 - 12h45

The Brazilian Socialist Party's own candidacy was shipwrecked on Tuesday morning (8) before it was officially announced. Former chief justice of the Federal Supreme Court Joaquim Barbosa informed the party's leader by phone that he would no longer run for president.

After many comings and goings, including meetings with party leaders, a last-minute partisan affiliation, and statements about the future of Brazil, Barbosa told the national leader of the party, Carlos Siqueira, that this was a "strictly personal decision."

With up to 10% of voting intentions according to Datafolha's poll, Barbosa's early withdrawal from the dispute changes the outlook for candidates who have yet to take off in the polls.

	Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress
	Former President of the Federal Supreme Court Joaquim Barbosa

Due to his ideological affinity - and the regional weight of PSB, whose center of gravity is still the Brazilian Northeast - Ciro Gomes is a potential beneficiary, if not of the spoils of Barbosa's votes, of PSB's party machine.

Barbosa's decision came as a surprise to the party's leaders, but not to his friends and family, who had already identified signs of withdrawal.

"He appreciated how receptive PSB was, but said that after much consideration, he was not going to enter the dispute," said Siqueira.

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

Read the article in the original language