BRASILIA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is bent on competing in October presidential elections, despite the judicial processes against him, according to local media.
In an interview published in the regional daily Folha de Sao Paulo, Lula said "I believe in democracy, I believe in justice" and "that's why I believe that I am going to be a candidate."
Polls have consistently shown Lula to be the people's favorite potential candidate, despite charges of corruption that he claims are politically motivated to sideline his presidential aspirations.
On Jan. 24, an appeals court rejected a motion to overturn his conviction for money laundering and accepting bribes. The court also stiffened his initial nine-year sentence to more than 12 years.
Lula and his defense team, however, have not run out of legal recourse.
On Thursday, Brazil's Superior Court of Justice (STJ) was set to examine a habeas corpus petition arguing that the procedures against him have been flawed.
Lula is accused of accepting a luxury beachfront apartment from construction firm OAS in exchange for lucrative contracts with state oil giant Petrobras.
Lula denies the accusation. His lawyers claim he was convicted without evidence and the apartment is registered as belonging to the firm.
