Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva abandons Brazilian presidential bid
Former president barred from running over corruption conviction

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has abandoned his run for the presidency, just weeks out from the election.
Lula, as he is widely known in Brazil, made the decision to step aside after Brazil’s supreme electoral tribunal barred him from running because of his conviction on corruption and money laundering charges.
The 72-year-old has strongly denied any wrongdoing, and claims that the charges brought against him are part of his political persecution. He has been in jail since April, serving a 12-year sentence.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Lula served two terms as president from 2003 to 2011, and left office with record high approval ratings of around 90%. The criminal charges were levelled against him after he left office.
Despite Lula’s imprisonment, “almost 40% of people asked by polling firm Datafolha said they would vote for him”, the BBC says.
CNN reports that “running mate and former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad will take his place on the 7 October ballot”.
In a letter to supporters, Lula urged those who had planned to vote for him to switch their vote to Haddad.
However, Hadded is relatively unknown, especially in the north-east of the country, and may struggle to overcome far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently leading in the polls at around 26%.
Bolsonaro’s campaign has been disrupted, and he is due to undergo major surgery after he was stabbed in the abdomen by an attacker at a campaign rally last Thursday.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
July fiction: Summers to remember
Feature Featuring the latest summer-themed novels from Darrow Farr, Lucas Schaefer, and more
-
Why are flash floods in Texas so deadly?
Today's Big Question Over 100 people, including 27 girls at a summer camp, died in recent flooding
-
'The way AI is discussed makes it seem like this is a necessary outcome'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos