Brazil Workers Party okays Alckmin as Lula's running mate

Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greets Sao Paulo's former governor Geraldo Alckmin's during an event to announce Alckmin's indication as his Vice President for national elections in Sao Paulo, Brazil April 8, 2022. REUTERS/Carla Carniel

(Reuters) - The leadership of former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's Workers Party (PT) on Wednesday approved former Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin as his running mate for Brazil's presidential election in October.

Lula, front-runner in the race against far-right incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, has worked for months to round out his ticket with Alckmin, a center-right political veteran who ran unsuccessfully against Lula in 2006. He is expected to allay concerns from business interests about a return of a left-wing government.