The Minister of Institutional Relations, , increased pressure for the Minister of Finance, , to contest the election in . This Wednesday (28), Planalto’s political coordinator defended that assistants serve the president () to reinforce platforms in the states.
“I think that in a situation like this, with a big confrontation, everyone has to take the field, put on their shirt and do what they know how to do best in the electoral dispute. So I defend that all of our staff, including Minister Haddad, are candidates. We need to fight in the states against the extreme right”, said Gleisi in a conversation with journalists.
Haddad from different sectors of the PT to run in São Paulo, whether for the government or the Senate. According to the minister, the position should be decided in dialogue with Lula.
The minister stated that he will leave his position before the deadline for disqualification, but his desire is to become the coordinator of the PT’s national campaign, without direct participation in the election.
Haddad’s fear is to suffer another electoral defeat in a row. He is running for the Mayor of São Paulo against João Doria (PSDB), the race for the Presidency of the Republic against (PL) and the election for the Government of São Paulo against (Republicans).
Despite this, sectors of the PT believe that Haddad would reach the polls at another level this year. Allies say that his performance at the Treasury reduced the resistance of the business community and the financial market to his name. Lula has told allies that he wants to see his minister forming a platform at the country’s largest electoral college.
“We are in a historic phase of defending democracy. We cannot let the extreme right return to power in this country. This is the historic commitment of the progressive camp, and President Lula is clear about this electoral responsibility”, added Gleisi.
Running for the Government of São Paulo would be a way of standing up to Tarcísio, seen as one of the national exponents of the right and who will campaign for Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) in the dispute against Lula. The governor is a strong favorite, so a left-wing candidacy is seen by the PT itself as a “sacrifice” in favor of a strong platform for the president.
The minister herself will run for the Senate in Paraná, in an election considered difficult, to respond to a request made directly by Lula. Until then, she planned to renew her mandate as federal deputy, in a dispute with victory considered guaranteed. Gleisi should remain in the ministry until March and executive secretary of the so-called Conselhão, the Council for Social and Sustainable Economic Development.
In , the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, had already joined the chorus of PT members pressuring Haddad to run. He stated that his government colleague “played an important role in 2022 and represents something much bigger.” Therefore, he said that he “cannot afford to want to make an individual decision.”
“In the case of São Paulo, the two big names are [o vice-presidente Geraldo] Alckmin and Haddad. It’s a matter of mission. It’s not wanting or not wanting. We often need to make ourselves available in the name of the national project, regardless of whether we are victorious or not”, added Camilo.
Behind the scenes of the government, there is special attention to São Paulo. Alckmin is tipped to run for government, as is the Minister of Planning and Budget, Simone Tebet (MDB). The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva (Rede), is being evaluated to run for the Senate, as is the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Márcio França (PSB).
