Vice-president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) stated that he will leave the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services on April 2 to dedicate himself to the elections. He will remain vice president until the end of his term.
It has not yet been decided whether Alckmin will continue as President Lula’s (PT) vice-president on his ticket for re-election in October or whether he will run for another position, but to run for any position he needs to disqualify himself from the role of minister, in accordance with the Electoral Law.
— In compliance with the legislation, the vice-presidency is not subject to incompatibility, but the ministry is. So, the date is April 4th, but the 3rd is Good Friday… so probably the 2nd. — he spoke during an event at the National Confederation of Industry, in São Paulo, about the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.
Asked about his political future, Alckmin only stated that “the president defines it”.
On Friday night, Alckmin participated in Simone Tebet’s affiliation with the PSB, who will run for the Senate in São Paulo.
— This year, we will have a choice between those who respect the people and want democracy and those who like dictatorship, which is to rule the people — declared Alckmin at the event, which took place at the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp).
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A few weeks ago, Lula signaled that Alckmin could also be a candidate for the Senate on Fernando Haddad’s (PT) ticket in the São Paulo election. The vice president, however, wants to stay in the position of vice president.
PSB leaders chose not to publicly address the issue, but admit, with reservation, that the president strains the relationship and generates some pressure and embarrassment with Alckmin. This is because, according to interlocutors, the national president of the party, João Campos, mayor of Recife, has already made it clear to Lula that the only non-negotiable point of the electoral alliance is the maintenance of the vice-president in office.
The party, in this sense, does not intend to create obstacles for the second Senate seat in São Paulo, nor due to the composition with Haddad, just as it makes itself available to boost the PT’s São Paulo campaign. But, according to these sources consulted by GLOBO, Alckmin’s alternative, if he is passed over in the name of articulating with a Centrão acronym, such as the MDB, would be to “return home”, and not face the polls for another public role.
