Brazilian Judge Orders Arrest of Former President Lula

• April 05 2018
• Bruce Douglas, Mario Sergio Lima

Brazil federal judge Sergio Moro has ordered the arrest of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, giving him until 5pm on Friday to hand himself in to authorities, according to the judge’s press office.

Brazil federal judge Sergio Moro has ordered the arrest of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, giving him until 5pm on Friday to hand himself in to authorities, according to the judge’s press office.

Moro’s decision follows a ruling by the Supreme Court that rejected Lula’s request to remain at liberty while he continued to appeal a 12-year prison sentence for corruption and money-laundering.

Lula is currently the front-runner in opinion polls for the October presidential election, however he is likely to be barred from participating. By law, no one convicted of a criminal offense upheld on appeal can run for elected office for at least eight years.

With Lula’s imprisonment now certain -- and his chances of running in October minimal -- the key question is whether he can still influence the election, potentially casting himself as a martyr and victim of political persecution.