This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-56326389
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Lula: Brazil's ex-president cleared by Supreme Court | Lula: Brazil's ex-president cleared by Supreme Court |
(32 minutes later) | |
Brazil's ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been cleared of corruption by a Supreme Court judge, opening a path to a possible run for the presidency in 2022. | Brazil's ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been cleared of corruption by a Supreme Court judge, opening a path to a possible run for the presidency in 2022. |
Lula, a leftwing icon to many, was freed in 2019 after 18 months in jail. | Lula, a leftwing icon to many, was freed in 2019 after 18 months in jail. |
He was convicted following an investigation, Operation Car Wash, into a huge bribery scandal which ensnared politicians and business leaders. | |
But Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin annulled Lula's convictions. | But Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin annulled Lula's convictions. |
He said in a statement that a court in the southern city of Curitiba did not have the right to try the four cases, which should instead be heard by a federal court in the capital, Brasilia. | |
The ruling, which still has to be considered by the full Supreme Court, restores Lula's political rights, unless he is convicted again. | |
Lula, president from 2003 to 2010, could theoretically run against President Jair Bolsonaro. The right-wing incumbent is thought likely to seek re-election next year. | Lula, president from 2003 to 2010, could theoretically run against President Jair Bolsonaro. The right-wing incumbent is thought likely to seek re-election next year. |
Brazil's Lula: Saint or sinner? | |
A quick guide to Brazil's scandals | |
Lula spoke to the BBC from prison earlier this year | Lula spoke to the BBC from prison earlier this year |
Lula, now 75, was jailed in 2018 for 12 years for receiving a beachside apartment from an engineering company implicated in the Operation Car Wash investigation. This was later reduced to eight years and 10 months. | |
In 2019, he was given a further 12 years in jail for accepting bribes in the form of renovation work at a country house from construction companies. | In 2019, he was given a further 12 years in jail for accepting bribes in the form of renovation work at a country house from construction companies. |
But in the same year, he was freed after the Supreme Court ruled that defendants should not be jailed until their appeal process has been exhausted. | But in the same year, he was freed after the Supreme Court ruled that defendants should not be jailed until their appeal process has been exhausted. |
Lula had denied all the charges, saying they were aimed at preventing him from running for president again in 2018. | |
The Operation Car Wash investigation began in March 2014. | |
It centred on allegations that executives at the state oil company Petrobras had accepted bribes from construction firms in return for awarding them contracts at inflated prices. | |
Lula's Workers' Party was engulfed in the scandal following allegations it took some of these funds to pay off politicians and buy their votes and to help with political campaigns. |