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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Brazil re-elects Lula |
| 2006-10-29 |
| Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been re-elected in a landslide victory, in the second round of presidential elections. With nearly all the votes counted, the Brazilian electoral court said Lula had won 60% against rival Geraldo Alckmin. Election officials said Mr Alckmin would not be able to pull ahead even if he won all of the remaining votes. Correspondents say voters gave Lula another term for his efforts to ease poverty while improving the economy. Votes in Sunday's run-off were cast using electronic ballot boxes, allowing officials to deliver a swift result. 'Resounding victory' A partial count showed the incumbent president had 60% of the vote - an insurmountable lead. Shortly after, the head of Brazil's electoral court declared Lula re-elected. The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Sao Paulo says it is a resounding victory for a man who was written off by many just over a year ago, when his Workers' Party was at the centre of a cash-for-votes scandal. But Lula weathered that storm and another during the first phase of this campaign when party colleagues were again accused of corruption, our correspondent says. Lula narrowly failed to win outright in the first round four weeks ago. During the ensuing campaign the president suggested to voters that Mr Alckmin might scrap welfare benefits for the poor and privatise Brazil's remaining state companies. Privatisation is generally viewed with suspicion in Brazil. Despite repeated denials by Mr Alckmin, the accusation undoubtedly cost him votes, our correspondent adds. I gather that rather than leftist, Lula is a nationalist, with a real distaste for the IMF and other international institutions. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #1 Lula was a communist who became a bit more nationalist and accomodating of capitalism. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-10-29 19:21 |