ugc_banner

Lula, currently in jail, will win Brazil election if allowed to run: Poll

WION Web Team
Brasília - Brasilia, Federal District, BrazilUpdated: Aug 20, 2018, 08:50 PM IST
main img
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Photograph:(Reuters)

Jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has increased his support by almost five percentage points and would win Brazil's October presidential election if he is allowed to run, a poll by CNT/MDA showed on Monday.

Electoral authorities are expected to bar Lula from the election due to a corruption conviction. Despite that, he took 37.3 per cent of voter intentions in the latest poll. 

His nearest rival was far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro with 18.3 per cent, followed by Marina Silva with 5.6 per cent and Geraldo Alckmin with 4.9 per cent.

Lula, as the former president is known, has been in prison since April 7 serving a 12-year sentence related to a corruption case.

Lula was arrested on corruption charges after found guilty of taking a luxury apartment as bribe from a construction company.

(With inputs from Reuters)