Who Is Fernando Haddad?

Assuming Brazil’s former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, now in prison facing corruption charges, is not allowed to run for president this October, his Workers Party will likely choose Fernando Haddad as its candidate. Recent polls signal that one in four voters don’t know enough about Haddad to form an opinion.

And with less than two months until the election’s first round, every day that Lula refuses to accept he can’t run is a missed opportunity for Haddad to introduce himself. Quick facts: Haddad, 55, holds a doctorate in philosophy and served one term as Sao Paulo’s mayor. He won in 2012 with 55 percent of the vote and lost a bid for re-election in 2016 with just 17 percent — so maybe a closer look won’t help him.

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