Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 16 augusT 2018
In defiant act, Brazil party registers Lula for president

By MAURICIO SAVARESE justice system being ma-
DIARLEI RODRIGUES nipulated to prevent him
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — The from taking power again.
Workers' Party registered Brazilian law bars anyone
jailed former President like da Silva who has had
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a conviction upheld from
as its candidate for presi- holding office, though the
dent Wednesday, its lat- court has the final say. "We
est attempt to muscle him don't even think about the
into the race to lead Latin possibility (of an election
America's largest nation in without da Silva) because
a showdown with Brazilian an election without Lula
electoral authorities. would be a fraud," Elen
More than 10,000 of da Sil- Neves, a 22-year-old farm-
va's supporters flooded the er from Parana state, said,
area around the Supreme using the name most Brazil-
Electoral Court in Brazil's ians call the former presi-
capital, while party lead- dent. "But if by any chance
ers went inside to file the his candidacy is rejected,
candidacy on the final day we will keep fighting for him
for registering. Soon after, to achieve the presidency."
Workers' Party Chairwoman Haddad emphasized that
Gleisi Hoffmann emerged, da Silva's political rights
proudly showing reporters have not yet been sus-
the proof of registration. pended and that he is still
Former Sao Paulo Mayor Supporter holds a photo of Brazil's jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as he takes part appealing his conviction.
Fernando Haddad was in the Free Lula March, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug.15 2018. It is unclear how long the
registered as the leftist par- Associated Press electoral court's decision
ty's vice presidential candi- will take, but the Workers'
date. tence for a corruption con- dency. parts of Brazil for his humble Party has until Sept. 17 to
"I will only not be a candi- viction, but he continues The police presence was beginnings and for sharing put someone else at the
date if I die, give up or am to lead polls for October's heavy around the court, the fruits of the country's top of its ticket if da Silva
ripped from the race by presidential election. The though the rally was boom years with the poor is barred from running. It
electoral authorities," da Sil- electoral court is expected peaceful. Many of the sup- and working classes. But his is thought that Haddad
va said in a message read to bar him from running be- porters wore red shirts or T- conviction and the ques- would take his spot.
to the crowd by Haddad. cause of the conviction. shirts with da Silva's face on tion over whether he can Da Silva was convicted
"I don't expect to die. I will Da Silva and his supporters them. Some more masks of run for office has split Brazil, last year of trading favors
not give up. And I will fight insist he is innocent, con- his face. The crowd shout- where some see his jailing as with a construction com-
for my rights in the electoral tending the charges were ed: "Free Lula!" or "Lula, war- proof that no one is above pany in exchange for the
justice system until the end." trumped up to prevent him rior of the Brazilian people!" the law and others feel he promise of a beachfront
Da Silva is serving a sen- from returning to the presi- Da Silva is revered in many is being persecuted by a apartment.q

New president takes over in Paraguay, vows to cut poverty

By PEDRO SERVIN tator Alfredo Stroessner, sources of energy and
Associated Press who ruled from 1954 to boost the agricultural sec-
ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) 1989. Abdo Benitez's father tor which is the backbone
— Mario Abdo Benitez took was Stroessner's private of the economy. But he will
over as Paraguay's new secretary. need to strike alliances with
president on Wednesday, While they belong to the members of other political
replacing a seemingly dis- same Colorado Party, parties to achieve major
gruntled Horacio Cartes, Cartes has been unhappy political and economic
who left the inauguration that Abdo Benitez failed changes because he lacks
ceremony before it fin- to back his effort to take a majority in both houses of
ished. an elected seat in the Sen- Congress.
Abdo Benitez, 46, promised ate. That would have given Paraguay is one of the
to combat poverty and Cartes greater influence — poorest and most corrupt
entrenched corruption, and possibly immunity from Paraguay's new President Mario Abdo Benitez, flanked by wife, countries in Latin America.
and urged Paraguayans any future efforts to pros- acknowledges crowd after taking oath at "Lopez Palace" in The corruption watchdog
to "look toward the future ecute the former soft-drink Asuncion, Paraguay, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. group Transparency Inter-
and not remain stuck in the and tobacco magnate. Associated Press national ranks it 135 out
past" as he took the oath Paraguay's constitution of 180 nations. But under
of office to start a five-year says former presidents au- Cartes and his allies felt laborating generously dur- Cartes, the economy, fu-
term tomatically become sena- "betrayed and humiliated" ing the campaign that led eled by agricultural ex-
The marketing expert tors for life, with a voice but by Abdo Benitez and his him to win the vote on April ports, has remained one of
campaigned to continue without a vote, and some allies, said Pedro Aliana of 22," Aliana told reporters. the strongest in the region.
Cartes' business-friendly say that means it's impos- the Colorado Party. During the campaign trail, The international Monetary
policies and played down sible for them to take an "Cartes was generous with Abdo Benitez also vowed fund expects Paraguay's
fears of a return to the elected seat with greater Abdo Benitez by putting to improve the health sys- economy to expand by 4.5
heavy-handed past of dic- powers. into practice unity and col- tem, develop alternative percent this year.q