SAO PAULO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Brazil's president blamed his ruling party for his failure to win the election in the first round amid a corruption scandal involving several members.
In the weeks ahead of the election two members of the ruling Workers' Party were arrested carrying $800,000 that was allegedly intended as a payoff for so-called incriminating evidence against his opponents. Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in under investigation for his possible role in the scandal, though maintains officials in his party acted without his knowledge.
Da Silva defeated his closest rival, former Sao Paulo Gov. Geraldo Alckmin with 48.8 percent of the vote to the center-right Alckmin's 41.4 percent.
However the president needed 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a runoff with Alckmin set for four weeks from Sunday's election.
"We need to resolve this to start campaigning for the second round," said Lula Monday, Agencia Estado reported.
