The speech by governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) after visiting former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) this Thursday (29), that he “without a doubt” supports Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) in the race for president, reinforces that the governor will seek re-election in São Paulo and opens the way for changes in the composition of the ticket in the state. Allies also point out that the president of the PSD, Gilberto Kassab, shows some irritation with Tarcísio’s electoral direction, by publicly defending that he does not show submission to Bolsonarism.
According to an ally, for a long time there was an expectation that Tarcísio could be “anointed” as a candidate for the Planalto by Bolsonaro, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the former president will not give up his son’s senatorial candidacy and that the head of Palácio dos Bandeirantes will not go against the will of his main political godfather, and the meeting would be a symbol of this decision.
This Thursday, Tarcísio went to the 19th Battalion of the Military Police of the Federal District (PM-DF), known as “Papudinha”, where Bolsonaro is being held. The meeting was authorized by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Upon leaving the place, the head of the São Paulo Executive stated that the visit aimed to show solidarity with the former president and lead demonstrations by supporters. At the meeting, the two spoke about the elections, and Tarcísio once again ruled out a federal candidacy and said that he “without a doubt” supports Flavio.
Opportunity with security!
“My interest is to stay in São Paulo. This is not controversial at all. We have a long-term project and we want to see these projects materialize”, he stated. “I have an important role within the team, which is to take care of the state, which is the largest electoral college in Brazil. The group has an important task, which is to provide Brazil with a different project”, he declared, mentioning that the country faces, in his assessment, a fiscal and moral crisis.
During the visit, the governor and former president also spoke about Caiado’s affiliation with the PSD. According to Tarcísio, the movement was viewed favorably by Bolsonaro. Allies claim that, after the visit, the issue surrounding the candidacies and the role of the governor has been pacified, with Bolsonaro’s approval, even though there are these movements by Kassab, who is the Secretary of Government of São Paulo, in favor of his own candidate.
Allies from Tarcísio’s base believe that Kassab has shown some “irritation” with the governor’s electoral direction. This Thursday (29), in an interview with the website UOL, Kassab argued that Tarcísio should be grateful to Jair Bolsonaro, but not submissive. The statement was circulated among deputies and in state administration offices.
Continues after advertising
“I have always told Governor Tarcísio that his gestures, his actions of recognition, of gratitude to Bolsonaro are very important, because this shows character. But, it is also important that a personality like him, who is governor of São Paulo and has aspirations of leading the country one day, shows that he has his identity. One thing is gratitude, recognition, loyalty, another thing is submission”, declared Kassab.
The announcement of the affiliation of the governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado to the PSD had already been interpreted as a sign that Kassab, one of the main enthusiasts and guarantors of Tarcísio’s presidential candidacy, is no longer optimistic about the reversal of Flávio’s candidacy. A close ally of the governor ventures to say that the biggest winner of the week is Paraná’s Ratinho Júnior, who has been a member of the PSD for the longest time and would have priority for the vacancy against Caiado and Eduardo Leite from Rio Grande do Sul.
Kassab was always enthusiastic about Tarcísio’s candidacy for president and worked for it, but he already understood that this would not happen without the former president’s blessing, points out another source. The PSD president himself made this clear in an interview with Globo News this afternoon, after the governor’s visit to Bolsonaro.
“The word ‘never’ should be avoided in politics, but I make an assessment that ‘probably’ he will be a candidate for re-election in São Paulo, in this case it is a game played. But I will never use that word because it is a word incompatible with politics”, he said, referring to the governor’s interview after leaving Papudinha. “(He) not only declared support for Flavio, but reaffirmed that he is a candidate for the government of São Paulo.”
The attention of São Paulo politics is now turning, more than ever, to the state ticket headed by Tarcísio. The post is strategic for a future election, in São Paulo, scheduled for 2030, when there would again be an obligation to disqualify Tarcísio from running for president, six months before the election. Whoever occupies the seat makes it easier to build an alliance to go to the polls, depending on the government’s assessment.
One source argues that the PL, with Flávio, would already be considered politically, which would facilitate the composition with the PSD of the current vice-governor, Felício Ramuth, or with Kassab himself. But other sources already indicate that the vacancy should go to state deputy André do Prado (PL), president of the State Legislative Assembly (Alesp). The parliamentarian has told interlocutors that the party will be strengthened in the party window and that it represents an alternative for pacification within parliament and with mayors in the interior. Another agreement that should advance in the coming months is in relation to the Senate: today, Guilherme Derrite (PP-SP) is the most consolidated name, but the other vacancy is still undefined.
Continues after advertising
Opposition takes advantage
Among PT leaders and members of the Lula government, recent movements have also increased the level of certainty about facing Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential election, which authorizes a definition also in São Paulo, where the PT member needs a strong platform capable of reaching the second round. The Minister of Entrepreneurship, Márcio França, states that Tarcísio “does not give confidence” to the Bolsonaro family and should even be passed over.
“He is smaller than the seat of governor of São Paulo. He should lead, not be led, but he seems submissive. He doesn’t even have the confidence of the Bolsonaro family, why would he have that of the people from São Paulo? It will be the big negative surprise of the election”, he said.
The image that Tarcísio would be trapped by Bolsonarist designs has been explored by his critics for months. The argument also extends to his stance towards American President Donald Trump, after the “tariff” on Brazilian exports. PT supporters say that the photo of the governor with the Trumpist campaign cap will be one of the highlights of the October election.
Continues after advertising
