Brazil's Workers Party backs former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for 2018

Brazil's ruling Workers Party would back former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to seek a third term in 2018, the country's chief of staff said in an interview.

Aloizio Mercadante told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper that the popular ex-president is the only choice for the PT in the next election. "He is my candidate, he always was," Mercadante said in the interview published yesterday. "There is no discussion in the PT; who is at the heart of PT's membership is Lula."

Mercadante serves as the chief of staff in the cabinet of Lula's protegee and current President Dilma Rousseff.

The Workers Party has held Brazil's presidency for 12 straight years, starting with Lula's two terms from 2003 to 2010.

Rousseff, Lula's former chief of staff, won the presidency in 2010 and won a second term last year.

Lula left office with wide popularity thanks to his ambitious social programs that helped reduce poverty.

Mercadante along with Lula were some of the founders of the Workers Party. Mercadante has ruled out seeking the nation's highest post.