Brazil Green Party nominates noted environmentalist as its presidential candidate

Brazil Green Party picks ex-environment minister

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s Green Party has tapped a renowned environmentalist as its candidate for October’s presidential elections.

Former Environment Minister Marina Silva has accepted the nomination.

Silva is far behind the two front runners with about 10 percent of the vote in most polls.

But that could put her in a king-maker role if she were to back another candidate in a runoff.

Ruling party candidate Dilma Rousseff and leading challenger Jose Serra are each polling around 37 percent.

Silva said Thursday that education and the environment will be pillars of her campaign.

She is not related to outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.