Brazil's popular outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will hand power to his political ally Dilma Rousseff on January 1, could run for president again in 2014.
His chief of staff, Gilberto Carvalho, said on Sunday: “Lula will look at the political situation. If Dilma's government goes well, of course she will seek re-election. If there are difficulties and Lula is the answer for the Workers' Party to win, he could be a candidate.”
Lula has a staggering 87 percent approval rating after his eight years in office.
Asked if he would risk his favorable legacy, Carvalho said “that would be a risk - but Lula would come back in a favorable position. Or a very necessary one”.
Brazil's constitituion does not allow Lula to seek three consecutive terms.
Rousseff, elected in October 2010, is the first woman voters chose as Brazil's leader. - Sapa AFP