Brazil: Lula joins forces with a former opponent, a choice of reason before the presidential election

From left to right, President of the Brazilian Socialist Party Carlos Siqueira, former Governor of Sao Paulo Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Socialist Party, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party and President of the Workers' Party Gleisi Hoffmann, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 8, 2022. AP - Marcelo Chello

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Six months before the Brazilian presidential election, and while he is not yet an official candidate, the left-wing ex-president Lula has already chosen his teammate, the former governor of Sao Paulo with a center-left tradition.

A choice of reason rather than heart. 

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The alliance between the icon of the left in Latin America and the centrist leader was an open secret.

Last night, the two former political rivals officially announced their intention to form a “presidential ticket”.

Simple companheiros!


Sem cerimônias, com a humildade de reconhecer que os desafios do presente são maiores que as disputes do passado.



📸: @ricardostuckert pic.twitter.com/rOAJH5RKoK

— Geraldo Alckmin (@geraldoalckmin) April 8, 2022

Geraldo Alckmin, an anesthesiologist, governed the region around the economic capital for sixteen years.

Long a member of the centre-right PSDB party before recently moving to the more left-wing PSB, Geraldo Alckmin has a reputation as a solid manager.

It should allow Lula to widen his electoral base to the conservatives and to reassure business circles which are traditionally wary of the Workers' Party.

The former president who beat Geraldo Alckmin in 2006 in the second round of the presidential election is full of praise for his new ally.

" 

We need his experience and mine to put Brazil back on its feet 

," said the former trade unionist after the announcement of the electoral agreement.

Lula is still the big favorite in the October 2022 ballot against outgoing far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, but the gap between the two contenders has been closing for a few weeks.  

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To read also: Presidential election in Brazil: six months before the election Jair Bolsonaro hardens the tone

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  • Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

  • Jair Bolsonaro

  • Brazil