Brazil’s Lula, 80, says he is ‘in great shape’ as he launches fourth term bid

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has formally launched his campaign for a fourth term.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist titan of Latin American politics who is loved and despised in near-equal measure in Brazil, will launch his seventh bid for the presidency at a convention of his Worker's Party (PT) in Sao Paulo attended by around 3,000 people.

The former metalworker and unionist made a dramatic comeback when he returned to power three years ago after a stint in jail on corruption charges that were later dismissed, and two previous terms from 2003-2010.

Rather than focusing on domestic achievements, Lula centred his campaign on Brazil's role in global affairs, pledging to increase defence spending and protect the country's reserves of rare earth minerals.