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Presidential candidate of the Brazilian Socialist Party, Marina Silva, on Thursday denied that she would stop exploring Brazil's extensive pre-salt oil reserves if elected.
In a broadcast interview made by Brazilian newspaper O Globo, Silva, a former environment minister and activist, said the allegations were untrue while acknowledging the key role of fossil fuels in Brazil's energy policy.
"There is no way to replace them, anywhere in the world. We will explore the pre-salt resources and we will use that income to invest in health care and education," Silva said.
"Oil is a one-off product that needs to be used properly, not wasted through corruption," she added, referring to a recent corruption scandal swirling around state oil and gas giant Petrobras.
A former company director who was arrested on corruption charges revealed, in exchange for leniency, an alleged bribery scheme involving Petrobras' contracts and a number of politicians.
Several governors, senators and federal representatives, as well as a minister, have been accused of accepting bribes to grant Petrobras contracts and placed under investigation.
Opposition candidates have seized on the scandal to attack President Dilma Rousseff, who is running for re-election.
On Thursday, Silva, who is known for being devout, also had to defend her dedication to preserving a secular state.
Following criticism of her close ties to religious and conservative leaders, Silva said: "We are not electing reverends, rabbis or priests. We are electing the president."
The formerly anti-gay marriage Silva initially adopted her Socialist Party's liberal stance on the matter, but retracted her support after being criticized by the religious community.
