SAO PAULO, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The ex-governor of Sao Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin and head of the Social Democracy Party (PSDB), was chosen on Saturday as the party's presidential candidate in the Oct. 7 general elections.

During the the party's convention in Brasilia, Ana Amelia Lemos, of the conservative Progressistas Party, was chosen as the vice presidential candidate.

This marks the second time Alckmin is a presidential candidate. He ran in 2006 and was defeated in the second round of voting by then president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Ex-president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, said that Alckmin "is the man who can restore confidence in the economy" and "bring peace to the country's political climate."

According to a poll done in June, only 7 percent of voters favor Alckmin. He trails Lula, Jair Bolsonaro and Marina Silva.