Brazilian President Temer edges closer to declaring for this year's race

Brazil's President Michel Temer gestures during a ceremony to announce the resumption of works of urban mobility in the city of Goiania, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil March 15, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel Temer edged closer towards declaring his candidacy to run in October's presidential election, telling a magazine that to not vie for the top office would be "a cowardice."

Temer took office in mid-2016 after then President Dilma Rousseff, for whom he served as vice president, was impeached. He is currently under investigation on corruption allegations. Last year he was faced three charges from Brazil's top federal prosecutor, but a friendly Congress blocked him from having to stand trial.