Brazil's centre party bloc endorses Alckmin presidential bid

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's five-party centrist coalition has united behind business-friendly presidential candidate Geraldo Alckmin, the leader of the Democrats party, ACM Neto, said on Thursday, boosting the chances of a reformist winning the October election.

"We are convinced that the only way to pull Brazil out of the pit is to join forces," congressman Paulo Pereira da Silva, leader of the Solidarity party, said at an event where the coalition formally announced its backing for Alckmin.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)