The candidates for the Brazilian presidential elections of October 2018 have been officially defined. Here are the main names of the dispute:

Geraldo Alckmin (PSBD), vice Ana Amélia (PP)

Henrique Meirelles (MDB), vice German Rigotto (MDB)

Ciro Gomes (PDT), vice Katia Abreu (PDT)

Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), vice Fernando Haddad

Marina Silva (PV), vice Eduardo Jorge (PV)

Jair Bolsonaro (PSL), vice Hamilton Mourão (PRTB)

João Amoedo (Novo), vice Christian Lohbauer (Novo)

Alvaro Dias (Podemos), vice Paulo Rabello de Castro (PSC)

Guilherme Boulos (PSOL), vice Sonia Gualajara (PSOL)

 

The PT has therefore decided to nominate Lula, despite being serving a sentence of 12 years in prison and is therefore not technically eligible for the Presidency of the Republic. This is obviously a political maneuver, designed to increase the climate of emotion over the incarceration of Lula and increase the pressure on the Brazilian judicial system. It is assumed that the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) will decide to exclude the candidacy of Lula, so the true candidate of the PT is his vice, Fernando Haddad, who in turn will have as vice Manuela D’Avila (PCdoB).

According to the latest survey on 27/7 by Ideia Big Data for the magazine Veja, Lula is leading with 29% of the preferences, followed by Bolsonaro (17%), Marina Silva (10%), Alckmin (7%) , Ciro Gomes (7%) and Alvaro Dias (4%). However, 43% of voters have not yet decided who to vote in October.

The first televised debate, carried out by the Band television network on August 9th, does not seem to have shifted the balance between the candidates. Lula did not participate as in prison and Bolsonaro managed to communicate with a moderate tone.

If the PT does not withdraw the candidacy of Lula, his actual candidate – Haddad – will have no opportunity to participate in the televised debates, but will avoid at the same time being attacked for the bad economy management of the Dilma Roussef government and for the scandals of corruption that involved the PT at all levels.

Less than two months before the first electoral round (the first two classified will participate in the second round ballot, at the beginning of November), the games are therefore completely open.