Secretary of Government of (Republicans), the president of , , once again treated the governor as a candidate for President, said that () is “a little more radical right-wing” and reinforced the assessment that the former president should not recover his political rights for next year’s contest.
Kassab is a frequent target of Tarcísio’s Bolsonarist allies, unhappy with the PSD leader’s space and political influence in the São Paulo government.
Kassab participated this Friday (21) in an event promoted by IDC (Center-Right International), which brought together center-right leaders from Europe and Latin America to debate the strengthening of political positions far from ideological extremes. The IDC is chaired by former president of Colombia Andrés Pastrana.
To journalists, during a break in one of the panels, Kassab was reluctant to talk about the center-right’s support for Bolsonaro’s name in next year’s elections. “It’s too early to criticize,” he said. “I think talking about names now is very premature, because each party has its own constructions. But in the future, we will certainly all be together”, he stated.
However, unlike Tarcísio’s speech, who states that he thinks Bolsonaro is innocent and that he should have his political rights back, Kassab avoided defending the former president, his ally’s political godfather.
“I don’t believe that President Bolsonaro will regain his eligibility for this election. Therefore, the PSD, in this context, works with these facts and we have these three name alternatives,” said Kassab — referring to Tarcísio as the first option and to the governors. (Paraná) and (Rio Grande do Sul) as alternatives if the governor of São Paulo does not run against (PT).
“Our center-right challenge is precisely to build, within the center-right ideology, liberal ideology, leaders that preserve freedom of the press, that preserve freedom, that build fairer countries, that promote social policies, that improve people’s quality of life. This is the great challenge, fighting the totalitarian regime of the right or left,” he said.
Although Kassab is considered one of Tarcísio’s main political organizers, the PSD was not part of the Bolsonaro government. To journalists, Kassab was reluctant to classify Bolsonarism as an extremist movement.
“Bolsonarism is right-wing. The PSD is center-right,” he said. “Let’s take Rogério Marinho. Do you think Rogério Marinho is far right? No,” he said.
In Bolsonaro’s case, “he is a little more radical on the right,” said Kassab. “It’s a clear position. That’s why the PSD is center-right, otherwise I would be in the PL.”
Kassab gave an interview alongside Pastrana. The president of the center-right organization defended the Donald Trump government’s attacks on vessels in the Caribbean — classified by the UN as “extrajudicial executions” — and attacked his country’s left-wing government, which took office after democratic elections.
“Governments of the region [América Latina] they are supporting narco-dictators. The same happens in Colombia. President Petro was elected with resources from drug trafficking,” said Pastrana — referring to allegations not proven by the justice system in the neighboring country.
Regarding Trump’s attacks, he classified them as maritime interventions. “What are the United States doing? I agree because, for the first time, President Trump and the United States are carrying out a maritime interdiction. That the Colombians did, the Peruvians did, the Venezuelans did before the Chávez government,” he said.
