Corruption-tainted former Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that a "diabolical pact" has been struck to prevent his return to the presidency in 2018.
Lula, who holds a comfortable first place lead in the polls ahead of the October presidential vote, was speaking a day after an appeals court announced it will rule on January 24 whether to uphold a nearly 10-year sentence for accepting bribe money.