Lula Taps Alckmin as Running Mate for Reelection Bid in October

• Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will be his running mate for the October general election.
• Lula, an 80-year-old leftist, maintained loyalty to Alckmin despite pressure to choose a different right-wing party candidate.
• Alckmin, 73, a center-right politician and current industry minister, will leave his ministerial role by April 4 to comply with electoral law.
• Alckmin's conservative roots helped Lula secure a narrow victory against Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.
• Alckmin has been a key figure in Lula's administration, involved in tariff discussions with the US and Mercosur-EU trade deal negotiations.