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Photos: Former Brazil President da Silva jailed, but voters want no other

To many Brazilians, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former president jailed on money laundering and influence peddling charges is a hero who pulled millions from poverty and deserves to be elected to office again this year. 21% of Brazilians say they wouldn’t vote if he isn’t on the ballot and two-thirds of his supporters would back whoever he endorses. Yet so far, nobody has put up posters or banners promoting da Silva in his home region, traditionally pivotal in deciding the country’s leader.

Updated on: May 30, 2018 1:52 PM IST

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A group of men talk on a sidewalk in the Brasilia Teimosa slum that was urbanized by an initiative of Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Recife. A booming economy under da Silva’s 2003-2010 governments, which included hikes to the minimum wage and several social welfare programs, helped many of the country’s poor. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

A group of men talk on a sidewalk in the Brasilia Teimosa slum that was urbanized by an initiative of Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Recife. A booming economy under da Silva’s 2003-2010 governments, which included hikes to the minimum wage and several social welfare programs, helped many of the country’s poor. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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His jailing over money laundering and influence peddling and likely disqualification from the presidential race has left a political question mark over Brazil, nowhere more than in the hardscrabble northeast that led the victories of his Workers’ Party in the last four presidential elections. Its 38 million voters are nearly a fourth of the total and will be pivotal in deciding the next leader of Latin America’s largest nation. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

His jailing over money laundering and influence peddling and likely disqualification from the presidential race has left a political question mark over Brazil, nowhere more than in the hardscrabble northeast that led the victories of his Workers’ Party in the last four presidential elections. Its 38 million voters are nearly a fourth of the total and will be pivotal in deciding the next leader of Latin America’s largest nation. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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Many are still not ready to vote for anyone other than the man known across Brazil as Lula. To many in his hometown Garanhans, Lula is a hero who pulled millions from poverty and deserves to be elected to lead Brazil once again this year. Yet so far, nobody has yet put up posters or banners to promote him in this city of almost 140,000 people. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

Many are still not ready to vote for anyone other than the man known across Brazil as Lula. To many in his hometown Garanhans, Lula is a hero who pulled millions from poverty and deserves to be elected to lead Brazil once again this year. Yet so far, nobody has yet put up posters or banners to promote him in this city of almost 140,000 people. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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Severino Silva stands near signs supporting da Silva, at his home in the Teimosa slum. Brazilian law bans da Silva as his corruption conviction has been upheld on appeal, but his party still insists there are ways to get him on the ballot. Paintings, posters and banners in many cities say “Free, Lula!” while others portray him as a crook who should remain jailed, a sign of deep polarization. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

Severino Silva stands near signs supporting da Silva, at his home in the Teimosa slum. Brazilian law bans da Silva as his corruption conviction has been upheld on appeal, but his party still insists there are ways to get him on the ballot. Paintings, posters and banners in many cities say “Free, Lula!” while others portray him as a crook who should remain jailed, a sign of deep polarization. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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“Lula will be the first prisoner elected president,” said farmer Jorge Rodrigues de Melo, a childhood neighbour of da Silva. “I believe police will take him from jail to his inauguration.” Brazil’s electoral court is expected to announce a decision on a da Silva appeal to get on the ballot in August. The Workers’ Party has until September 17 to replace its jailed founder on the ticket. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

“Lula will be the first prisoner elected president,” said farmer Jorge Rodrigues de Melo, a childhood neighbour of da Silva. “I believe police will take him from jail to his inauguration.” Brazil’s electoral court is expected to announce a decision on a da Silva appeal to get on the ballot in August. The Workers’ Party has until September 17 to replace its jailed founder on the ticket. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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A fisherman casts his net by the exit of a water terminal, in Campina Grande, which is irrigated with waters from the Sao Francisco River. The project, which provides water to four drought-prone states, stands as one of da Silva’s most ambitious undertakings. If not him, people want someone who has worked with him to carry on such ongoing projects. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

A fisherman casts his net by the exit of a water terminal, in Campina Grande, which is irrigated with waters from the Sao Francisco River. The project, which provides water to four drought-prone states, stands as one of da Silva’s most ambitious undertakings. If not him, people want someone who has worked with him to carry on such ongoing projects. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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A billboard of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro stands tall in Garanhuns city. Largely unknown until recently in the region, the conservative from Rio de Janeiro has softened his attacks on da Silva in hopes of luring disappointed supporters. “People want an honest president and Bolsonaro is that. Lula’s mask has fallen. He is a saboteur,” said martial arts teacher Daniel Bastos. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

A billboard of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro stands tall in Garanhuns city. Largely unknown until recently in the region, the conservative from Rio de Janeiro has softened his attacks on da Silva in hopes of luring disappointed supporters. “People want an honest president and Bolsonaro is that. Lula’s mask has fallen. He is a saboteur,” said martial arts teacher Daniel Bastos. (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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Eraldo dos Santos stands inside a replica of the birth home of his cousin, da Silva, in Garanhuns. “I believe this is a coup, that Lula should be freed and be our candidate. But we also must think about the future,” said dos Santos, while showing where da Silva used to live. “Lula is not immortal and we progressives need to put his ideas forward.” (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

Eraldo dos Santos stands inside a replica of the birth home of his cousin, da Silva, in Garanhuns. “I believe this is a coup, that Lula should be freed and be our candidate. But we also must think about the future,” said dos Santos, while showing where da Silva used to live. “Lula is not immortal and we progressives need to put his ideas forward.” (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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In letters from jail, da Silva has said he plans to run in part because not doing so would be akin to admitting guilt. “We feel like orphans,” Natalia Oliveira said at the bar she owns in Brasilia Teimosa, a neighbourhood in Recife that was transformed from a dangerous slum into a modern beachfront area during da Silva’s second term. “Who will we vote for? It is so sad, but that’s where we are at.” (Eraldo Peres / AP)

Updated on May 30, 2018 1:52 PM

In letters from jail, da Silva has said he plans to run in part because not doing so would be akin to admitting guilt. “We feel like orphans,” Natalia Oliveira said at the bar she owns in Brasilia Teimosa, a neighbourhood in Recife that was transformed from a dangerous slum into a modern beachfront area during da Silva’s second term. “Who will we vote for? It is so sad, but that’s where we are at.” (Eraldo Peres / AP)

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