Jailing of ex-premier jolts national election

CURITIBA, Brazil — Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva woke up in jail Sunday, becoming the first current or former president in Brazil’s modern history to be incarcerated amid an ongoing saga that has added unpredictability to the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

Foreshadowing possible unrest in the weeks to come, about 500 supporters remained outside the jail hours after police shot rubber bullets and sprayed tear gas to disperse the crowd when da Silva arrived Saturday night. The Workers’ Party said eight people were injured during the clashes.

“The police cowardly attacked us last night, but we accept that we have to stay outside the perimeter. We will respect it,” said Roberto Baggio, local coordinator of the Landless Workers’ Movement. “We are not leaving until Lula is freed.”

Da Silva’s fall from grace has unfolded steadily over the past week after the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the country’s top court, ruled against his petition to remain free while he continued to appeal his 12-year sentence for money laundering and corruption.

But his prison conditions will not be dismal. Not considered a formal cell, the 160-square-foot room that has been set aside for the former president is located on the fourth floor of the fivestory Federal Police building in Curitiba. It is mostly used as a dormitory for agents visiting from other cities.

The towering political figure will continue to appeal his corruption conviction from jail.

He is the latest high-profile Brazilian to be ensnared in the “Car Wash” corruption investigation, which has seen several of the country’s political and business elite arrested over the past four years.

He is also leading preference polls ahead of October’s presidential election.