BRAZILIANS are holding their breath this evening as the country’s most popular politician, former president Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva, was ordered to turn himself in to begin serving a 12-year sentence on a controversial corruption conviction.

Federal judge Sergio Moro gave Lula until 5pm local time (9pm BST) to comply with the arrest warrant after the Supreme Federal Tribunal voted 6-5 to deny his request to remain on bail while he appeals against a conviction that he contends is designed to keep him off the ballot in October’s presidential election.

Despite his conviction, he is the front-running candidate.