Former Brazil president defies prison order, sets up showdown

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defied a judge’s order to report to prison Friday, setting up a showdown with authorities and triggering demonstrations around the country both for and against the charismatic politician’s stand.

Earlier in the day, an appeals court rejected a lastminute request by Lula to temporarily waive his prison mandate.

The former president was sentenced in January to 12 years in prison for accepting bribes from a large Brazilian construction company in return for government contracts. He denies any wrongdoing.

Lula, who appears set to be the first Brazilian president to be jailed since the country’s military dictatorship ended three decades ago, is leading in the polls ahead of a presidential election in October. He has vowed to continue his campaign from behind bars, if necessary.

On Thursday, Judge Sérgio Moro ordered Lula to report to the federal police station in Curitiba by 5 p.m. next day to begin serving his sentence after the Supreme Court refused to let him stay out of prison until the appeals process is exhausted.

Lula told local media he did not intend to turn himself in and spent the night at the headquarters of the metalworkers’ union where he began his career four decades ago. Outside, hundreds of supporters wearing the traditional red of the Workers’ Party he founded in 1980 surrounded the building.

“Come get him,” they chanted.

Lula briefly came to the window, waved to supporters and raised his fist in the air.

Demonstrators both for and against Lula took to the streets Friday, blocking 50 highways across the country. A woman was shot at a pro-Lula rally in northern Brazil.