The Superior Electoral Tribunal fined Lula 10,000 reais ($5,524) late on Thursday for campaigning for his chief of staff Dilma Rousseff, the Workers’ Party candidate to succeed him.
The court argued that Lula openly supported Rousseff’s campaign during a speech in January in Sao Paulo. Lula, a hugely popular leader who is barred by law from seeking a third straight term, can appeal the decision.
In Brazil, unlike in many other Western democracies, campaigning is restricted to three months before the election. Opposition parties have complained since last year that Rousseff gained in opinion polls because Lula took her on ribbon-cutting events throughout the country, giving her extensive media exposure. Rousseff has closed the gap on the leading opposition candidate, Sao Paulo state Governor Jose Serra, to between 4-5 percentage points from over 20 points six months ago, opinion polls show.
Lula, whose mandate ends on Jan. 1, 2011, mocked the court’s first fine of 5,000 reais this month but analysts say growing media attention on the issue could pressure Lula to cut back campaigning and harm Rousseff’s bid.
Two major Brazilian newspapers ran the court decision on their front pages
