A relaxed atmosphere and a much more optimistic tone than seen in recent months marked the first meeting of what promises to be the core of Finance Minister Fernando Haddad’s campaign. The meeting, held discreetly on the night of last Wednesday (11), had the air of a get-together of friends, according to reports made privately by PT members at the CNN Brazil.
Those present said they saw a relaxed Haddad there, whose priority was to show that he truly embraced the mission given to him by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The whiskey-fueled conversation went through the challenges of the dispute with Tarcísio de Freitas, but without going into details of the strategy.
Haddad, said one of his colleagues, even told everyone to stay calm, as he has a “plan” to win in São Paulo. He just didn’t tell us what was coming. But it is certain, says the interlocutor, that the campaign against Tarcísio de Freitas will involve topics such as the privatization of Sabesp, tolls on the roads and what PT members describe as an “abandonment” of mayors in the interior of São Paulo.
The guest list was short. Marketer Otávio Antunes, deputies Jilmar Tatto and Carlos Zarattini and advisor Laio de Moraes, Haddad’s right-hand man, were present. The absence of Emidio de Souza was mentioned, who is close to the minister and is also expected in the PT’s first team. The state deputy has just become a father.
The choice was for a discreet location away from the spotlight – the house of a “friend of ours”, said another participant at the meeting without naming names. Haddad arrived tired, overwhelmed with the transition at the Ministry of Finance. But he was smiling and conveyed serenity about his candidacy.
At a certain point in the conversation, each person started talking about what they like and what they don’t like about doing an election campaign. They joked about Haddad not being a big fan of the more remote street agendas. But the minister was warned that he will not escape running the State.
If everything goes as planned, Haddad should officially run for governor of São Paulo by the end of the week, alongside President Lula. For now, there is even talk of an informal announcement, perhaps a “jawbreaker”, a nickname given to post-event interviews in which journalists crowd around the interviewee.
Lula is expected in São Paulo on Thursday, to participate in the 17th Federative Caravan. The event is organized by the Presidency’s Secretariat for Institutional Relations. In the audience will be mayors and other public agents linked to municipal executives from across the state.
The two are also on the guest list for former mayor Marta Suplicy’s birthday, the night before, and can choose to participate in the event.
Undefined plate
The idea is for Haddad to formalize his candidacy without tying up the design of the ticket he will lead. The final format still depends on many arrangements, some of them linked to the PT’s national campaign.
The hammer is down, for now, in relation to one of the Senate vacancies, which will go to Minister Simone Tebet. It is currently in the MDB, but may migrate to another allied acronym.
The discussion on the second chair, which could go to the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, remains on hold. As CNN reported, Marina is going through an internal conflict within Rede Sustentabilidade and is considering returning to PT. She also has invitations from PSOL and PSB.
At PSB, negotiations also reach Vice President Geraldo Alckmin himself, who could occupy one of the seats in the Senate. It is certain that, even if he remains Lula’s vice-president, an alternative desired by the former tucano, his role will be intense in the state campaign. There are also mentions of the minister and former governor Márcio França as a key player in the campaign in São Paulo. Not to mention the PT’s conversations with other allies, such as PDT and PSOL.
