Minister Gleisi Hoffmann (Institutional Relations) to the Senate changed the PT’s plans in Paraná. Planalto’s political coordinator assumes the place previously reserved for Ênio Verri on the majority ticket. The party understands that the entry of the former president of the party mixes up the dispute with the right, which is even divided.
The minister made her pre-candidacy official this Wednesday (21), after meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the national president of the party, Edinho Silva, and Ênio Verri, who would run for the Senate.
“I reaffirmed my commitment to strengthening, in Paraná, the project led by President Lula. I am a pre-candidate for the Senate”, wrote the minister on social media, this Wednesday.
The PT built an alliance at the local level that foresees the candidacy of Requião Filho (PDT) for the government. PC do B, PV, O and Rede are still part of this formation, with expectations of attracting subtitles such as PSB and Avante.
This year, there are two places up for grabs. One would be Verri, current president of Itaipu. Requião Filho stated to interlocutors that his ticket design does not include two PT candidacies for the Senate.
In this way, Gleisi’s candidacy reinforced the PT’s understanding that the second name for senator needs to have a profile that breaks the leftist bubble. The name of current senator Flávio Arns (PSB), in this sense, is mentioned as a possibility. The vice-president would go to one of the parties not included.
Gleisi’s candidacy involves Lula’s plan to launch competitive names for the Senate to oppose Bolsonarism. The former president (PL) will try to elect the largest number of senators to achieve the impeachment of ministers of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and pressure the court against their arrest.
Gleisi, before Lula’s request, intended to leave Institutional Relations to seek re-election in the Chamber of Deputies. The campaign for the Chamber is seen as a more guaranteed path to securing another four years in office.
Paraná has a recent history of voting to the right. It is governed by Ratinho Júnior (PSD), who intends to run for President against Lula. But his group does not agree on who should be the candidate for succession, while the senator () launched a pre-candidacy for the government.
In this political field, possible candidates for senator include the former deputy (Novo), journalist Cristina Graeml (União Brasil) and deputy Filipe Barros (PL). Considered to succeed Ratinho, state secretary Guto Silva (PSD) and the president of the Legislative Assembly of Paraná, Alexandre Curi (PSD), are also options considered for the Senate race.
For Lula, it is also important to strengthen the platform in Paraná. In 2022, the state gave 62.4% of valid votes to Bolsonaro in the second round, compared to 37.6% for the PT member. The idea is to reduce the margin of advantage of the right, which has senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) as a pre-candidate for the Presidency.
Succession in the ministry
By asking the minister to run for Paraná, he precipitated the debate about who will be in charge of the government’s Institutional Relations from April onwards. There are a variety of candidates to take over the political coordination of the Planalto amid other changes in the palace and on the Esplanade.
Traditionally, ministers who leave office to run for office leave their portfolio under the command of their executive secretary. The person occupying the position in the portfolio today is Marcelo Costa. A career diplomat, he has a technical profile, but his supporters understand that the portfolio needs a political name, even during election months.
In this sense, names of PT leaders tipped to take over Gleisi’s post are circulating across the Planalto. This list includes the ministers (Social Development) and (Education). Both were elected senators in 2022 and, therefore, do not need to run in this year’s election to continue in office.
Camilo, however, has an uncertain future. Under , the minister is considered to run for state government. In this design, the current governor, Elmano de Freitas (PT), would run for the Senate. In this game of musical chairs, the current leader of the government in the Chamber, , would not see his pre-candidacy for senator prosper.
