Environmentalist holds key to Brazilian electionA champion of the Brazilian rainforest is likely to have a King-making role in country's elections, after capturing a large proportion of the first-round vote.
The 19 per cent of the vote polled by Green party candidate, Marina Silva, in the first round election did not see her move through to the upcoming second round on October 31.
Her endorsement, however, is being frantically courted by the remaining candidates, the Workers' Party's Dilma Rousseff and Social Democrat, José Serra. Her role is now forcing debate on crucial environmental issues including Brazil's forestry code and the country's commitments to climate change.