SAO PAULO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Brazil's president has been slapped with a hefty fine for breaking Brazil's strict electoral laws, Estado de Sao Paulo reported Saturday.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was fined nearly $18,000 (50,000 reals) for speaking out last month in favor of Sao Paulo's incumbent mayor during a publicly funded event leading up to last week's election.
Though Lula could contest the fine, he admitted his wrongdoing and said he had been caught up in the heat of the moment. He admitted he should not have endorsed Sao Paulo Mayor Marta Suplicy during the event.
Lula and Suplicy both hail from Brazil's leading left-wing Workers' Party. The Sao Paulo mayor lost the 1st round of the vote with challenger Jose Serra winning the four-man race. Suplicy must now face Serra in a runoff later this month.
