Brazil's Lula says he might seek office

Brazil's outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he might run for president again some day, Folha de S. Paulo newspaper reported on Monday, a revelation that could weaken his chosen successor.

Lula, who will leave office on Jan. 1 with a popularity rating over 80 percent thanks to Brazil's economic boom, was forbidden by Brazil's Constitution from running for a third consecutive presidential term this year.

Asked in a TV interview if he might run for president again in the future, Lula replied: “I can't say no, because I'm still alive. I'm honorary president of a party, I'm a born politician, I built extraordinary political relationships.”

The interview by local RedeTV aired in the early morning hours on Monday, Folha said.

Though Lula, 65, has never ruled out running again, it was his most explicit statement to date that he could be a candidate again in 2014 or later.

Lula chose his former chief of staff Dilma Rousseff as his party's candidate to succeed him and his support was crucial to her winning the presidential election in October.

Rousseff, a left-leaning pragmatist in Lula's mold, is staffing her government with many of his most prominent former officials. His surprise admission of possible interest in running again could make it more difficult for Rousseff to emerge from his long shadow and establish power of her own.

Rousseff, who had never run for office before, constantly fought perceptions during the campaign that she was a political neophyte and a placeholder for Lula. Folha plastered the interview across its front page on Monday.

Seemingly aware his statements would cause a stir, Lula told the interviewer: “I'm a little afraid that tomorrow somebody will see your interview and say that Lula said he could be a candidate (again).”

Still, he continued to discuss the possibility, concluding: “We're going to work for (Rousseff) to have a good government, and when the moment arrives, we'll see what happens.” - Reuters