BRAZILIAN politicians from the opposition Workers Party have adopted the name Lula in an act of solidarity with the country’s jailed former president.

The members of congress made the official name changes as the popular leader began a 12-year sentence for corruption charges on Saturday.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva , known as Lula, was expected to sweep to victory in October’s presidential elections and was leading comfortably in polls before he was jailed.