Brazil Presidential Election: Will Lucia Or Maia Replace Temer In 2018?

Following the Brazilian Congress' vote last week not to put embattled President Michel Temer on trial for corruption, betting odds have been set for the next president of the country ahead of the next election scheduled for October 2018. Amid the turmoil, online betting site Bovada listed 17 potential presidential candidates.

The country has been stricken by political scandals over the past three years, with more than 80 politicians involved in millions of dollars in kickbacks.

Polls show that 81 percent of Brazilians are in favor of sending the president to trial. Temer replaced Dilma Rousseff, who was removed from office on Aug. 31, 2016, following her impeachment on charges of criminal administrative misconduct and disregard for the federal budget.

Temer, 76, has been besieged with bribery charges, including accusations he accepted an estimated $12 million over nine months from meat processing giant JBS. He is expected to face further graft charges in the coming weeks and has faced calls for resignation. Under the law, Congress can elect an interim leader to replace Temer before the 2018 election, though many expect Temer to finish his term.

Leading the pack to become the next president is Supreme Court chief Carmen Lucia Rocha at +300 odds. She is followed close behind by Speaker of the Lower House Rodrigo Maia at +400.

Judge Rocha is considered a serious contender but faces challenges with so many investigated legislators concerned about a judge serving as president. Maia, 47, has received support from key lawmakers despite being linked to illegal campaign financing.

"Rodrigo Maia is openly and intensely campaigning," Julio Delgado, a five-term lower house legislator, told Bloomberg in May. "His strategy ... is to show support for Temer’s agenda, and on the other to beckon other deputies."

Additional betting odds consider whether Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who served as president from 2003-2011, will be arrested by the end of 2018. The odds of Lula being arrested are listed at +110, while the odds of him not being arrested are listed at -150.

Meanwhile, Lula, who was convicted of money laundering and corruption on July 12, has +600 odds to become the next president. He was sentenced to more than nine years in prison but is appealing the conviction.

Also listed at +600 odds is minister of finance Henrique Meirelles. Other candidates include businessman Eunicio Oliveira (+700), former senator Marina Silva (+700), federal judge Sergio Moro (+900) and Sao Paulo mayor Joao Doria (+1,000).

Brazil, a country with a population of 207 million, has seen its economy slightly improve in recent months after a prolonged and crippling recession. However, the record unemployment rate has been over 13 percent, with over 14 million Brazilians out of work.