Former president Brazil takes a bone at court

brasilia - The former president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has once again suffered a legal defeat. A court of appeal dismissed procedural objections to his conviction for corruption.

Lula has previously been sentenced to twelve years in prison on appeal. He will remain at liberty in any case until 4 April. Then the Supreme Court decides whether the former president can exhaust his appeal possibilities before he has to start his cell punishment.

The court ruled in 2016 that suspects should start their sentence if their first appeal against a conviction has been rejected. That decision is, however, under discussion.

Lula wants to take part in the presidential election again, but will probably be declared ineligible by his conviction. Nevertheless, he conducts the polls.

He was president from the beginning of 2003 to 2011 on behalf of the left-wing Labor Party. Supporters of Lula think he will be prosecuted to prevent him from taking part in the elections again.