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Brazil to Hold Runoff Vote For President
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=14344D7:5F753BCA39991A3BA14DBD912D5B44409574F7DCC14957C0 Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva will face former Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin in
October 29 election Brazil's top two presidential candidates begin
another month of campaigning Monday,





Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva makes the sign of 'Lula'
after voting in Sao Bernardo do Campo, October 1, 2006after incumbent
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva failed to secure a first-round election
victory in Sunday's voting.

Mr. da Silva of the leftist Workers' Party finished with 48.6 percent
of Sunday's vote - short of the majority needed to win a second term.
His main rival, former Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin of the
Social Democracy Party, received 41.6 percent support.

The runoff will be held October 29.

During his first term, President da Silva enjoyed wide support and was
credited with stabilizing Brazil's economy and anti-poverty social
programs. But his popularity slipped in the final days of his
re-election campaign, in part because of allegations of corruption
within his party. Mr. da Silva was first elected in 2002.

Brazilian voters also elected state governors and members of congress
Sunday.

 

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

 


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