Former president (and current frontrunner in Brazil's upcoming elections) Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) has officially relinquished his position as the presidential candidate to Fernando Haddad, his running mate. Lula has been in jail for the last five months in Curitiba (PR), as he was convicted for corruption and money laundering.

Lula's approval was expressed in a letter read by lawyer Luiz Eduardo Greenhalg, who is also one of the founders of Partido dos Trabalhadores (Worker's Party). Greenhalg read Lula's missive in front of the Federal Police building, where Lula is serving his sentence.

"From now on, Haddad will be Lula for millions of Brazilians," he wrote. In the letter, he also asked his voters to switch the name in their ballots to Haddad, former mayor of São Paulo.

During a speech, Haddad said he felt the pain of those who "won't be able to vote in whom they wanted to take office," and asked Lula's base to help him in a "monumental task".

He has less than a month to guarantee Lula's place in the polls. The former president was the clear frontrunner, with 39% of voting intentions. 

With Lula out of the race, Haddad has 9% of voting intentions, according to a Datafolha poll from Monday (10th). He's technically tied in second place with Ciro Gomes (PDT), Marina Silva (Rede) and Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB). Jair Bolsonaro (PSL), leads with 24%.

In the last time Haddad ran for office, in 2016, he attempted to be reelected in São Paulo and lost in the first round to João Doria (PSDB).

^{Translated by NATASHA MADOV}

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