-Caveat Lector- Euphorian spotted this on the Guardian Unlimited site and thought you should see it.
To see this story with its related links on the Guardian Unlimited site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk Lula prepares for Brazilian run-off Alex Bellos in Rio de Janeiro Monday October 07 2002 The Guardian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a commanding majority in the Brazilian persidential election, although he fell just short of taking the post in the first round. With 99% of the vote counted he had registered 46.4%, and will face Jose Serra, the candidate of the current government coalition, who polled 23.2%, in a run-off in three weeks' time. Mr Da Silva said the result was the greatest victory a leftwing party had had in Brazil, although he could not disguise his disappointment at not reaching the 50% and one vote which would have given him an outright victory. "This was a historic vote and I wish to thank the millions of Brazilians who voted to give the Workers' party their greatest victory ever," he said, raising his hands in triumph. Lula, as he is universally known, said that 76% of Brazilians had voted against the current free-market economic policy and in favour of a "new model of development". Two defeated leftwing candidates - Anthony Garotinho (17.9%) and Ciro Gomes (12%) - are expected to back him in the second round. But he took less of the vote than the opinion polls had predicted and Mr Serra increased his share. Workers' party candidates failed to win the governorship of of the big states, which could hinder campaigning in the weeks ahead. "Lula is the strong favourite because he is so far ahead, but the second round is an entirely new election," said Constantin Jancso of MCM Consultores in Sao Paulo. "The issues are now going to be discussed in more detail and it is unclear how Lula will do." Mr Da Silva, a former lathe operator and union leader, was the runner-up in the last three elections and party loyalists fear that his reputation as the man who fails at the final hurdle could come to haunt him. This election he toned down his rhetoric, chose a running mate from a centre-right party and had a spin-doctored makeover to appear loveable rather than revolutionary. His dominance reflects the regional dissatisfaction with unbridled free markets, from crisis-ridden Argentina and Uruguay to Peru and Ecuador in the west. He also represents a challenge to the US-backed effort to connect South America to the world's biggest free trade bloc by 2005, which he calls Washington's "annexation plan of Latin America". The Brazilian real lost almost 2% of its value against the dollar within hours of trading beginning yesterday. "We are going to have another three weeks of this soap opera, of the real going up and down according to the opinion polls," said Miriam Tavares, director of the brokers AGK. The election, the first in Brazil to be totally computerised, had some teething problems. Electronic ballot boxes broke down, there were long queues and the main database was a lot slower than had been predicted. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
