Geraldo Alckmin, the stone in Lula's shoe

Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa
Published: Wednesday September 27, 2006

Sao Paulo- Social Democrat Geraldo Alckmin is running second place in the polls to defeat President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's in Sunday's vote, but with only 30 per cent support appears unlikely to unseat the charismatic leader. Alckmin, 53, is a a medical doctor specializing in anaesthesia. Should Lula fail to gather more than 50 per cent in Sunday's vote, the physician would likely be the major challenger in a potential run-off on October 29.

"Geraldo" - as he likes to be called given the difficulty that Brazilians have pronouncing his last name - was only 24 when he became mayor of his native Pindamonhangaba, in the state of Sao Paulo.

The man who at 19 had already become the town's most voted councillor was later to serve as governor of Brazil's richest and most populated state between 2001 and 2006, and only stood down to run for president.

Alckmin has staunchly denied being a member of the conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei, but always carries close to him its book "The Way." The opposition and the media alike have underlined his links to Opus Dei, including his efforts to rename a street after its founder, Josemaria Escriva.

Also in the stoic tradition of that controversial group, however, Alckmin is thought to be nearly immune to both criticism and praise, and followers and critics consider him to lack charisma.

Alckmin, one of the founders of the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy (PSDB), has promised to return the country to the path of ethics and to subject his countrymen to fewer taxes.

The preferred candidate among the business community, he does not however fare well with the majority of the Brazilian electorate, which considers him the candidate of the rich in a country with 45 million poor.

Despite having said in an interview that he only ever wears imported ties and shoes, Alckmin has promised to improve Brazil's services in education, health, public safety and social integration, along with a "real shock of management and decency."

The devout Alckmin, however, needs close to a miracle to get to be inaugurated as Brazilian president on January 1, and at least a little divine help to force Lula to compete in a run-off election.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa