What next in Brazil after Lula’s corruption convictions annulled?

Judge’s decision opens door for former president to run in 2022 elections, but legal experts say many questions remain.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Last week, in a surprise ruling, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge quashed all corruption convictions against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, restoring his political rights and opening the door to a possible 2022 presidential run. Lula, the 75-year-old leftist leader from the Workers’ Party (PT), has not yet confirmed whether he intends to run next year, but he and his defence team view the judge’s ruling as a testament to his innocence. In an address to the nation on Wednesday, Lula described the sprawling anti-corruption case in which he was convicted as “the biggest judicial lie told in 500 years of Brazilian history”.