Brazil election sees breakthrough for Greens and environmental agenda

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Source: Guardian UK


Brazil election sees breakthrough for Greens and environmental agenda

Rainforest champion Marina Silva wins 19% of first-round vote, gifting her decisive role in main candidates' run-off


Environmental campaigners and Green party activists heralded a breakthrough today after a former rubber-tapper from the Brazilian Amazon who rose to be a world-famous rainforest defender became the central figure in the second round of the country's presidential election.

Marina Silva, who was raised in the Amazon state of Acre and was illiterate until the age of 16, failed to make the second round but came away with 19% of the vote, far higher than pollsters had expected.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's chosen candidate, Dilma Rousseff, meanwhile missed out on a first-round majority, polling a disappointing 46.7%.

With Rousseff's main rival, the Social Democrat José Serra, taking just under 33% of votes, Silva became the king or queen maker in the 31 October runoff when Serra and Rousseff do battle.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/04/brazil-election-breakthrough-greens