Brazilian Offers Wager on Neves’ Recovery

BRASILIA, Brazil — A Brazilian lawyer Saturday offered to bet $42,000 with anyone that President-elect Tancredo Neves, 75, would survive his life-threatening illness and take over the presidency.

Pedro Valadares announced the bet through advertisements in local newspapers of his home state of Goias, laying down two conditions.

These were that the bet had to be for at least $42,000 and the winner should pay the money to the Neves family to help meet the hospital bills of the president-elect who has had seven operations since March 14.