[R-P] ASÍ LA VEN LOS PRIMOS DE LOS YANKIS

[Domingo Schiavoni]

Este es el boletín electrónico de la BBC. Los periodistas piratas
descubrieron dos cosas importantes: primero, que Lula es el primer "líder
izquierdista" que "puede" llegar a ser presidente de Brasil, y segundo, que
"puede producirse" un giro inesperado en la política latinoamericana. ¿Cómo
se habrán dado cuenta? ¿Alguno de ustedes les contó?
Saludos entusiastas. MINGO.

Monday, 7 October, 2002, 07:46 GMT 08:46 UK
Lula faces run-off for Brazil presidency


Partial results from Brazil's presidential election show left-wing candidate
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won nearly twice as many votes as his nearest
opponent.
But it appears he will fall short of the absolute majority needed to be
declared the winner after the first round of voting.
A head-to-head battle is now almost certain to take place on 27 October to
decide if Mr da Silva, the former metalworker and trade union activist
universally known as Lula, will become president.

His challenger is likely to be Jose Serra, the candidate backed by President
Henrique Cardoso's centrist coalition, and correspondents say the outcome of
the run-off is far from certain despite Mr da Silva's first-round lead.
With 90% of ballots counted, Mr da Silva had won about 47% of the vote, with
Mr Serra trailing him on 24%.
Thousands of Lula supporters had gathered on Sao Paulo's main Paulista
Avenue, waving red flags and hoping to celebrate an emphatic victory for
their candidate.
But Lula campaign spokesman Andre Singer said the 56-year-old former union
boss had expected a run-off and was "happy and confident" he would win it.

Mr da Silva has made it through to the second round before, only to fail to
win the presidency, but he has not had such high levels of first-round
support before.
Correspondents say the run-off will be closer, as Mr Serra will be able to
concentrate solely on attacking Mr da Silva and his policies rather than
worrying about the other two candidates who were vying for second place.
Few analysts are predicting that Mr da Silva will lose a second round, but
none are prepared to rule it out either.

The result of the presidential election is seen as crucial, as it is widely
believed that it could dramatically change the political direction of Latin
America's biggest country and have repercussions far beyond the region.
If Mr da Silva is victorious, he would become Brazil's first elected leftist
leader.
But while a Lula victory may bring hope to the millions of Brazilians who
live in poverty, the reaction of the financial markets will be crucial.
Brazil has seen its currency plunge amid investors' worries over Mr da
Silva's ability to run the economy, and concern has grown that the country
might default on its $260bn debt.
Mr da Silva has toned down his left-wing rhetoric, stressing that he would
respect international agreements and stick to stable economic policies.
Before the poll, Mr Serra said he was convinced he could force a run-off and
then pull together a strong enough anti-Lula coalition to claim the
presidency for himself.
It seems he will get that chance as he is ahead of the other two candidates,
former state governors Anthony Garotinho and Ciro Gomes.
All four candidates have campaigned on platforms of social change in a
country beset by poverty, unemployment and wide income disparities.
Sunday's vote was also to elect the state governors, who wield considerable
power, and senators and deputies to the federal congress where no party is
likely to achieve a majority. State deputies were also chosen.