Brazil’s highest court rejected former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s request Thursday to not go to prison. He is appealing a corruption conviction. He faces a 12-year sentence for accepting bribes. He may be jailed within one week. Lula is still Brazil’s most popular politician. He served as president from 2003 to 2011. He is now leading in all public opinion studies for the presidential election this October. But his conviction will likely prevent him from running. The decision against Lula may seriously affect the future political career of Brazil’s first working-class president. Lula rose from working in a factory to the highest political office in the country. But corruption charges have strongly influenced the political environment in Brazil, especially Lula’s Workers Party. The party held power from 2003 to 2016.