Half Brazil's election candidates on trial: watchdog
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Half of the candidates running in the Brazilian municipal elections this weekend are currently on trial, according to an independent political watchdog.
Two months ago a court ruling allowed for people on trial to run for public office in Brazil.
A study by the political watchdog Congresso em Foco has shown it to be a very significant decision.
Of the 178 candidates running for mayor of Sao Paulo in Sunday's election, 86 of them are currently on trial.
Between them the candidates face 415 trials with 11 contenders in Brazil's economic centre Sao Paulo facing a total of 106 charges.
Former Sao Paulo governor and mayor Paulo Maluf was comfortably elected to office in 2006 despite facing 49 trials.
