The Brazilian Socialist Party have chosen Marina Silva, a former environment minister, to replace PSB's presidential candidate Eduardo Campos, who died in a plane crash, a senior party official announced on Saturday.

Former Environment Minister Marina Silva agreed to take the position after the party leaders told her to run, Sao Paulo city councilman Ricardo Young said in a Friday meeting.

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The party will follow some internal procedure in announcing Silva’s candidacy, but the main leadership has already confirmed, Young added.

Rodrigo Rollemberg, the party's leader in the senate confirmed Silva’s takeover on the position. The Socialist party is now working on the selection of  her running mate, he added.

Silva’s presidential candidacy along with her new running mate will be formally announced by the Socialist party (PSB) at a party meeting on August 20, 2014, Reuters reported.

According to some leading newspapers in Brazil, Silva’s conservationist priorities and anti-establishment style are the main concerns of some prominent PSB members on her nomination.

However, according to some reports, Silva was known to have a wide following after coming third and gaining nearly 20% of votes in the previous election. Now, she is seen as a strong opponent in the upcoming presidential election.

Her candidacy could threaten President Rouseff's re-election hopes because of her widespread support among Brazil's disaffected voters who want change to the country's traditional parties, reports said.

Marina Silva, a devout evangelical, came from a humble family in the country's north. She joined Campos' party list after failing to register her own party for the October election, reports said.

Some reports had indicated that the first round of the presidential election will take place on October 5 and another round later that month if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes.

TagsMarina silva, candidate, president