RIO DE JANEIRO, AUG 3 (Bernama-dpa) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been officially nominated by his left-wing Workers' Party (PT) as its candidate for a fourth term in office, reported German news agency dpa.
"I am infinitely fitter than I was when I was 57 years old and took office for the first time. I am in top shape," the 80-year-old Lula told supporters at the party conference in São Paulo on Sunday.
Under the Brazilian constitution, a president may be re-elected directly for a second consecutive term. Having previously served from 2003 to 2010, Lula returned to office in 2023. A further election victory would give him a fourth term overall. Geraldo Alckmin is again set to serve as his vice president.
Lula's most important challenger is right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for an attempted coup. Flávio was nominated as a candidate by his Liberal Party (PL) last week.
The Bolsonaro family maintains close political ties with US President Donald Trump, though Flávio is considered less popular than his father was and has so far been unable to count on the united support of the conservative camp.
Argentinian ultra-liberal President Javier Milei also appeared at the Bolsonaro party event, launching sharp attacks on both Lula and the Brazilian judiciary. The appearance triggered a diplomatic row described as one of the most serious disputes between the two neighbouring South American countries in decades.
--BERNAMA-dpa