Vladimir Platonow
Reporter - Agência Brasil
Brasília - The deadline for the official registration of presidential candidates ended last night (July 5) at 7:00 pm. However, there is an inevitable loophole in the law on the deadline for candidacies: the Federal Election Board (TSE) will permit registration until tomorrow (July 7).
As a result of this situation, there are now seven officially registered candidates for president of Brazil in this year's general elections in October. And there is an eighth candidate trying to get the paperwork in order so as to get registered by Friday.
The paperwork which must be presented to the TSE so that a candidacy can become official includes a declaration of assets and an estimate of what the candidate intends to spend.
Here is a rundown on the seven official candidates:
Luciano Bivar, of the PSL, whose vice president candidate is Américo de Souza. They have declared that they will spend R$ 60 million (US$30 million) in their campaign.
The PDT candidate is senator Cristovam Buarque, a former governor of the Federal District (Brasilia) and minister of Education, whose vice president is senator Jefferson Peres. They declare they will spend R$ 20 million (US$10 million).
The colligation "People Power" (A Força do Povo) (PT-PRB-PCdoB) will attempt to reelect president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and José Alencar. They have announced they will spend up to R$ 89 million (US$45 million).
Another colligation "For a Decent Brazil" (Por um Brasil Decente) (PSDB-PFL) is running Geraldo Alckmin, the former governor of São Paulo, and senator José Jorge. They say they will spend up to R$ 85 milhões (US$43 million).
The PCO registered the candidacy of Rui Pimenta for president and Pedro Paulo Pinheiro for vice president. They will spend up to R$ 100,000 (US$50,000).
The PSDC is running José Maria Eymael for president and José Paulo Neto for vice president. They have declared they will spend up to R$ 20 million (US$10 million).
Finally, senator Heloísa Helena (Psol) will be running for president with César Benjamin as her candidate for vice president. The ticket intends to spend up to R$ 5 million (US$2.5 million).
Translation: Allen Bennett
