At a huge disadvantage compared to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the Northeast, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) decided to appoint a parliamentarian from the region, also senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), to coordinate his pre-candidacy for the Planalto. The decision, taken after a request from former president Jair Bolsonaro to his former minister of Regional Development, is a sign that the representative of Bolsonarism intends to prioritize the traditional PT stronghold during the electoral race.
The latest Genial/Quaest, released last week, shows the extent of the difficulty in the region, where his father was behind the PT candidates in the two elections he contested, in 2018 and 2022. According to the survey, Lula has 60% more voting intentions in the Northeast, while Flávio scores 13% and 15% in the scenarios with more names tested.
The level reached by the PL senator is below that recorded by him in other regions. In the Southeast, Flávio ties with the current president — in one of the scenarios, with a margin of error of three percentage points for the region. In the South, Central-West and North, he appears ahead of Lula.
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When explaining his decision, Marinho announced that he had given up running for government of Rio Grande do Norte. The senator emphasized that he responded to Bolsonaro’s request to “join the fight of his son, Flávio, to rescue Brazil”. On Tuesday, the former president’s defense asked Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), for authorization for him to receive Marinho’s visit to Papudinha.
“Gratitude, solidarity and loyalty to Bolsonaro and what he represents define my decision”, added Marinho, who argued that “defeating the PT is a historic necessity to save Brazil”.
The senator also released a video this Wednesday in which Flávio thanks him for giving up his candidacy in favor of coordinating his campaign for Planalto, which he classified as “a choice for Brazil”. According to Flávio, Rio Grande do Norte delivers “one of the main frameworks of national politics” to help “rescue the country”.
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“I know that your hearts are a little heavy due to the decision he made. But I am aware and certain that he is making a choice for Brazil, because we will rescue together, from 2027, this country from the clutches of the dark party”, said Flávio, in reference to the PT.
The presidential pre-candidate also highlighted that, with Marinho’s company, the state will be “even more included” in its government plan:
“We are going to do phenomenal work across the country, and Rio Grande do Norte will be even more blessed with Rogério joining us in this great team that I intend to put together to put Brazil back on the path to prosperity.”
Marinho was considered Bolsonarism’s main bet to run for government in Rio Grande do Norte, a state that is experiencing a tightening of the electoral race and has an election on its calendar for a buffer mandate, scheduled to take place in April, when governor Fátima Bezerra (PT) must leave office to run for the Senate.
The election will take place because the vice-governor, Walter Alves (MDB), announced that he will also resign to run for the position of state deputy. He must support an opposition ticket to the PT, together with the União Brasil, PP and PSD parties. Under Marinho’s presidency, the PL in the state has capillarity in the Legislative Assembly, occupying a third of the seats, and should have influence in choosing who will command the machine.
