Voters in Brazil Are Divided Over Lula's Candidacy

02/01/2018 - 10h54

Brazilians are divided over the possible ineligibility of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after an appeals court unanimously upheld the conviction on corruption charges, according to the most recent poll by conducted by Datafolha.

The percentage of respondents who say that Lula should be barred from participating in the October elections is greater - 51% compared to 47% who declare that he should be allowed to run - but the difference is within the statistical margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.

Sentenced to 12 years and 1 month in prison for corruption and money laundering, Lula is ineligible under the terms of the Clean Record Law, although permission to run could be granted by the Superior Electoral Court or through an appeal to other higher courts.

Among the groups most in favor of barring him from running are voters with high-school (55%) and college (67%) educations and those with monthly family incomes greater than two minimum salaries (60%), and this percentage increases up to 70%, commensurate with income.

Lula's candidacy has greater support in the Northeast and Northern regions, where 71% and 53% of voters, respectively, defend the former president's candidacy. In the rest of the country, more than 60% of voters are opposed to the idea.

A majority of all Brazilians (53%), however, want to see Lula imprisoned. This number has decreased 1% since September, which is within the statistical margin of error. Among those who believe that the Workers Party leader shouldn't be imprisoned, the percentage has increased from 40% to 44% in the last four months.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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	Diego Padgurschi/ Folhapress
	Former president Lula da Silva