Lula will run in the election even if he is convicted.
Leading in all voting intention scenarios for the 2018 presidential election, Lula will run even if convicted in the second instance; the Workers' Party has already made its decision on the matter and will argue that not even an unfavorable verdict would prevent the registration of his candidacy; if the Public Prosecutor's Office wants to remove him from the race, allies say, it will have to conduct a public manhunt; the PT candidate's focus is to remain in the lead in the polls to make it even clearer that this is a case of political persecution.
247 - The Workers' Party (PT) is convinced that, even if convicted in the second instance, former president Lula will contest at least half of the first round of the 2018 election.
The party will argue that not even an unfavorable verdict would prevent the registration of his candidacy. If the Public Prosecutor's Office wants to remove him from the race, allies say, it will have to conduct a public manhunt. The Workers' Party candidate's focus is to remain in the lead in the polls to further dramatize the situation.
The path of political confrontation with a judicial decision gained strength and became unanimous after an opinion from Professor Luiz Fernando Casagrande Pereira, delivered to the party in October.
The PT's biggest problem will be convincing its allies to take on this high-risk undertaking. Party leaders already have a prepared speech: under any circumstances, Lula will be a powerful campaign asset, not only for whoever inherits his spot on the ticket, but also for candidates for Congress.
The information is Folha de S.Paulo newspaper's "Painel" column.