LULA LAUNCHES BRAZILIAN PRESIDENTIAL BID FOR FOURTH TERM

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced his candidacy for October elections on Sunday at a Workers' Party convention in São Paulo attended by approximately 3,000 people. The 80-year-old stated he was "in great shape" and emphasised his physical fitness, saying he works out regularly and walks for an hour daily. Lula said he was considerably fitter than when first elected in 2002. He described his candidacy as his seventh presidential run across four decades and stated it would be his final term in office.

Lula addressed concerns about foreign influence in the campaign, stating that no Chinese, American or French entity would access Brazil's rare minerals without respecting the nation's sovereignty. He said he intended to boost Brazil's defence industry and claimed the country must "be much more daring to change a lot of things". The former metalworker and union leader returned to power three years ago following a dramatic comeback after serving time in jail on corruption charges, which were later annulled. The campaign faces pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration according to reports of the announcement.

Brazil's constitution permits presidents to serve two consecutive terms, then run again after sitting out at least one term, with no lifetime limit on total terms served. Lula stood alongside his wife, Rosangela da Silva, and stated he would not seek election again after his current term, saying he and his wife planned to "go on holiday to focus on romance for another 20 years". His main election rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.