Allies of (PL), including the former president (PL), see a possible dispersion of candidacies opposing the (PT) as a chance to garner support in the second round of the presidential election. PT members, in turn, still evaluate the scenario after joining the party, but consider the division on the right to be positive.
The PSD seeks to undermine Flávio’s candidacy by ensuring that it will have its own candidate in the dispute for Planalto. In addition to the governor of Goiás, the party has two other potential presidential candidates, the governors. (PR) and (RS).
According to members of the PT leadership, it is necessary to study the impact of the PSD’s decision. But, in principle, the party considers that the plurality of right-wing candidacies in the first round opens up a flank to explore differences between the candidates. The calculation is that, if Caiado or another conservative name does not want to be a supporting player, they will necessarily enter into a collision course with Flávio as they compete for the same electorate.
According to PSD interlocutors, the party wants to enter the presidential race for real. The idea is to receive the support of more parties in the center, which would prevent Flávio from putting together a broad alliance against Lula.
After visiting Bolsonaro in Papudinha, this Thursday (29), the governor of São Paulo, (Republicans), said that the former president supported Caiado’s affiliation with the PSD to contest the election.
“O [ex-]The president understands that it is a candidacy that also adds to this project, and in the end everyone will be together against the PT, have no doubt about that. He also sees it with hope, he saw a successful movement and was satisfied”, said the governor.
According to Tarcísio’s report, Bolsonaro did not see any problems with there being more than one right-wing name in the election, as the tendency is to add up and create a “great force” in the end.
The head of the São Paulo Government office in Brasília, Vicente Santini, understands that Kassab is moving the PSD to the right. “Certainly Caiado will not be with Lula in the second round, it is a guarantee of support for Flávio”, he tells Sheet Tarcísio’s assistant, who is close to Bolsonaro’s children.
PSD members say that Caiado’s affiliation was necessary because Ratinho could give up running for Planalto and Leite’s electoral viability is questioned. The agreement is that Kassab defines which of the three will be his candidate by April and that those who are rejected support the chosen one.
For parties in the center, which are resigned to the fact that Tarcísio should not be a candidate for President, supporting a PSD name has become an alternative, in addition to the possibility of opting for neutrality between Lula and Flávio.
It would be a way for these parties to avoid committing to Lula or Flávio in states that have a PT or Bolsonarist tendency. Thus, these acronyms can focus on the election of deputies and senators, a valuable factor for defining party and electoral funds.
Leaders of the Republicans and the MDB, for example, told the reporter that they would be open to talking to the PSD about a possible alliance. People close to Kassab also see a chance of getting closer to Podemos and Solidariedade, despite the latter tending towards neutrality.
Politicians heard by Sheet They state, however, that disagreements between Kassab and other center-right leaders could hinder the support of parties for the PSD presidential candidate. In , for example, there are complaints from the PP and the MDB because of the mass affiliation of mayors promoted by the president of the PSD, who is Government Secretary under the Tarcísio administration.
STRATEGY
Kassab’s main objective is to increase his strength in the National Congress, as his own candidacy can boost the election of deputies and senators. Furthermore, by launching a candidate, the PSD avoids having to take a position and can negotiate eventual support for Lula or Flávio only in the second round.
PSD leaders also claim that it is possible to build state platforms with names outside of polarization. In Santa Catarina, the mayor of Chapecó, João Rodrigues (PSD), should be released, concluding the break with governor Jorginho Mello (PL).
There, the PSD’s idea is to attract the MDB and the PP. The two parties had reduced space in the coalition headed by Jorginho, so that Bolsonaro supporters would have a greater role on the governor’s ticket.
In Bahia, an alliance with the PSD could provide a comfortable platform for the national secretary of União Brasil, ACM Neto, to face the PT without having to carry Bolsonaro’s surname.
In the state, where Lula historically has a large vote, the PSD is part of the alliance with the PT, rejecting support for the other candidacy. In Rio de Janeiro, Mayor Eduardo Paes, who is from the PSD, will have to decide whether to open his platform to Lula or to a candidate from his own party.
The PSD leadership decided to launch its own candidacy at a dinner that brought together the three possible presidential candidates this week, at Kassab’s house. The affiliation of Caiado, who left , was already being discussed on Tuesday night (29).
Former senators Jorge Bornhausen (SC) and Heráclito Fortes (PI) also attended the dinner, as well as former ministers Guilherme Afif and Andrea Matarazzo (SP).
