MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Despite legal setbacks, Lula reiterates his intention to run for a third presidential term
In a letter addressed to Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, president of the Workers' Party, Lula said that he remains intent on running in the October elections. 
“I am a candidate until truth comes up and until media, judges and prosecutors either prove the crime I committed or stop lying,” he said. Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reiterated on Thursday his intention to run for a third presidential term. Lula was jailed on April 7 and is serving a sentence of 12 years and one month for corruption and money laundering.
His lawyers are working -- so far without success -- to get him free until all appeals in his case are judged. Lula can still appeal to the Superior Court of Justice and to the supreme court.
In a letter addressed to Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, president of the Workers' Party, which Lula founded and presided over for years, Lula said that he remains intent on running in the October elections.
“I am a candidate until truth comes up and until media, judges and prosecutors either prove the crime I committed or stop lying,” he said.
The former president reaffirmed his innocence and said the party should not have an alternate candidate for the president, for that would mean acknowledging a crime he has not committed.
Lula was found guilty of taking bribes in exchange for using his influence to favor construction company OAS in contracts with oil giant Petrobras. According to the prosecution, the bribe was a luxury apartment at Guaruja, a coastal town in Sao Paulo.
Lula denied ever owning the apartment. He said he visited it a few times, but decided against the purchase.
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Read all commentsALL he has to do is promise the Armed Forces; the votes from the ignorant masses - the problem is solved!
May 12th, 2018 - 03:12 pm 0The rich and powerful are but a few in relation to the general population; therefore, to elect their well-off representatives they must trick the majority into believe they will represent the interests of the majority. To have better chances, they must also convince the population's majority that popular candidates are not good--for example, they are corrupt. If they can find judges willing to certify the corruption, the trick is done as the said candidate is taking out of circulation.
May 13th, 2018 - 05:56 am 0Looks like said candidate and the 'ignorant masses' in Brazil could make the shrewd scheme fail this time.
@EM:
May 13th, 2018 - 12:32 pm 0REF: “If they can find judges willing to certify the corruption”:
Why CERTIFY? Isn't it perfectly LEGAL already?
REF: @colunadoestadao
“Mesmo preso, Lula ainda pode ter dois ou quatro assessores à disposição. Os oito custam hoje aos cofres públicos cerca de R$ 1,1 milhão por ano só com salários. Atrás das grades, ainda pode gastar R$ 550 mil com as remunerações”
https://i1.wp.com/www.humorpolitico.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lula-x-Aecio.jpg?resize=580%2C409&ssl=1
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