TV Personality Stirs Political Uproar by Entering Brazil’s Presidential Race

A popular television personality has caused an uproar by entering Brazil’s presidential campaign just two weeks before the Nov. 15 election.

The newly declared candidate, Silvio Santos, is the founder and owner of Brazil’s second-largest television network and the star of a Sunday afternoon variety show that wins the highest TV ratings. He has little formal education and no political experience.

Political commentators said Santos could draw large numbers of votes from candidates who are leading in opinion polls--or that he could even win. The newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo said Santos’ candidacy “can only be viewed with consternation and anguish.”

Three political parties took steps Wednesday to challenge the legality of Santos’ entering the campaign. Armando Correa, presidential candidate of the tiny Brazilian Municipalist Party, withdrew from the contest to give Santos his place on the Nov. 15 ballot. Because ballots have already been printed, Santos’ name will not appear. But an “X” alongside Correa’s name will count for Santos if the Superior Electoral Tribunal approves the switch.

Santos, 58, is the son of Greek immigrant street vendors. He dropped out of school to work as a street vendor himself but later won a job reading radio commercials. That started his broadcast career, which led him to change his name from Senor Abravanel. Now he is a multimillionaire and one of Brazil’s top entertainers.

After negotiations failed with two larger parties, Santos announced his agreement Tuesday with Correa’s party. Analysts said he could hurt candidates popular with working-class voters, including centrist Fernando Collor de Mello, who has led opinion polls.