Marina Silva confirmed as presidential candidate

The Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) officially announced former Senator Marina Silva as the party's presidential candidate late on Wednesday (Aug. 20). Her running mate will be PSB Federal Deputy Beto Albuquerque. The decision was made following a meeting with representatives of the parties that make up the Unidos pelo Brasil coalition (“United for Brazil”).

Silva had been the running mate on Eduardo Campos's ticket and is now the party's choice to replace him following his death in a plane crash last Wednesday (Aug. 13) in Santos, a coastal city in the state of São Paulo.

Upon this decision, PSB now has until August 23 to register the new ticket with the Electoral Court. Beto Albuquerque said he and Marina Silva will honor commitments made by the PSB.

“Silva will fulfill all agreements signed by former governor Eduardo Campos. She and I will not simply do our own thing. We are going to do what Brazil demands and needs, and what the people want. This has all been set forth on our agenda. And that's our commitment,” Albuquerque said.

In the party's invitation letter for Marina Silva to lead the coalition, PSB members reaffirm their commitment to establish “a government that will decentralize power and be guided by ethical politics, uncompromisingly stand up for the people's interests and serve the common good with a view to eliminating inequalities and promoting economic, social and political inclusion of millions of Brazilians who are still ostracized from the social and economic progress and human development.”

Translated by Mayra Borges