The Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) officially announced Marina Silva, former environment minister, as the new presidential candidate for the upcoming Brazil’s October elections.

Some sources said Silva's bid for president shook up incumbent President Dilma Rousseff's re- election campaign. In an opinion poll conducted on Monday, Silva placed second running slightly ahead of Brazilian Social Democracy party (PSDB) representative Aecio Neves. 

Like Us on Facebook

Silva was chosen unanimously, PSB President Roberto Amaral told reporters. After the announcement, the newly appointed PSB’s presidential candidate said that she will give her best on the position.

The environmentalist campaigner replaced the late Eduardo Campos, a former presidential candidate who was recently killed in a plane crash.

Along with Silva’s presidential candidacy launching, Congressman Beto Albuquerque was also named as the PSB's new vice presidential candidate, Reuters reported.

The vote is expected to go to a runoff. Whoever finishes ahead will enjoy the increasing probability of beating President Dilma Rousseff, who held power for several years.

Based on some sources, Silva, called as Brazil’s most principled politician by her supporters, pulled strong support from large evangelical Christian community. Some of those supporters are prominent business executives and young voters who are dissatisfied with the current Brazilian political system.

Alfredo Sirkis, a federal member of Congress, said that the result of the polls result were affected by the public's strong emotional reaction to Campos' death. However, it is not impossible for Silva to win the election because she embodies the idea of change in Brazil’s political system, Sirkis added.

Political scientist Cláudio Gonçalves Couto of Fundação Getúlio Vargas also expressed his opinion on the polls, saying people need to wait a couple of weeks for the emotions to subside.

Marina Silva started strong in the election campaign but she will need more supporters and bigger donors to maintain the impetus, Couto added.

TagsMarina silva, Roberto Amaral, Brazilian Socialist Party, Brazilian Social Democracy, Eduardo Campos, Beto Albuquerque, Dilma Rousseff