Joaquim Barbosa tells Christian Democracy he won't run for president

Former Supreme Court Justice Joaquim Barbosa has officially withdrawn from the presidential race, informing the Christian Democracy (DC) party of his decision. This move follows earlier reports and confirms that Barbosa will not be a candidate for the presidency in the upcoming elections.

Interlocutors familiar with Barbosa's decision attribute it to significant challenges in securing adequate campaign resources and a robust party structure. These factors, they state, weighed heavily on his consideration of a presidential bid. The DC party has not yet issued a formal statement regarding Barbosa's withdrawal.

Barbosa, who rose to national prominence for his role in the Mensalão corruption trial, was announced as a pre-candidate by the DC in May. His potential candidacy had already created internal friction within the party, which had previously considered former Defense Minister Aldo Rebelo as a presidential contender. Rebelo, who had been expelled from the party, was later reinstated by a federal court.

Barbosa's decision comes after a notably weak performance in recent opinion polls. The latest Genial/Quaest survey showed him with only 1% of voter intentions, underscoring the difficulties he faced in building a viable campaign.