Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is considering ways to boost the ranks of his ruling coalition in order to win the October municipal elections and pave the way for a coalition victory in the 2006 presidential election, O Estado de S. Paulo said.

Lula wants to add members from the Democratic Movement Party, the biggest party in the Senate, to his Cabinet, improving the chances of an alliance between his Workers' Party and the so- called PMDB through 2006, the paper said. Still, the PMDB may propose candidates for main cities in the October election, including Sao Paulo, the country's biggest city, and Porto Alegre, both controlled by Lula's party, Estado said.

Workers' Party leaders, including its president, Jose Genoino, say that this year's municipal elections will partly determine the outcome of the 2006 presidential race. Lula, whose party has mayors in 187 cities, said in August that he doesn't have plans to seek reelection for the 2007-2010 term.

(1/5 Estado A5)

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Last Updated: January 5, 2004 08:20 EST