The leadership of the party decided to remove from the agenda of the party meeting, which will be held this weekend, controversial topics that could increase the president’s weariness on the eve of the campaign.
According to the proposal formalized this Thursday (23) by PT president, Edinho Silva, to the PT leadership, the agenda of the party congress will be dismembered, leaving for April 2027 points that can divide members, such as their party status.
In this first stage, the PT should focus on the debate on the situation and electoral strategy, also presenting consensual proposals for inclusion in the president’s government program – such as the universalization of full-time education and the end of the six-day work schedule for one rest day.
On Thursday afternoon, after participating in a meeting with Lula, Edinho gave a speech to the party in which he recalled the importance of the October elections and defended a focus on tactics for the presidential race.
Once again, the PT leader described the scenario as difficult. According to reports, he also stated that the speech on combating will be central in the pre-campaign, and it will be necessary to face the opposition.
When speaking specifically about the Banco Master case, he said that it is the party’s task to reiterate that the origin of the problem lies with the Jair Bolsonaro government and that the merit of the investigations lies with the Lula government.
According to members of the PT command, controversial points, such as the review of the fiscal adjustment implemented by the economic team, will be left out of the manifesto that will be released by the party on Sunday (26), the closing date of the congress.
Despite this, the party may present proposals such as reducing interest rates, judicial reform and electoral reform.
The defense of democracy and sovereignty was also highlighted as a pillar of the campaign. Among the proposals listed by Edinho is the debate on rare earths and energy transition.
The Edinho party also preached the expansion of the scope of increasing the exemption range for those earning up to R$5,000 per month, which would be possible within a tax reform.
The adoption of zero fares for public transport users and the universalization of education make up the agenda presented by Edinho after this meeting with the president. Although Lula is expected to participate in the closing of the congress, the party has already been informed about the possibility that the president will not participate due to the medical procedure he will undergo this Friday (24).
The event aimed to discuss the party program and government program, electoral tactics and a statutory reform of the PT. The idea, now, is that the party congress becomes a space mainly to energize and unite militancy.
Discussions that have the potential to cause fractures within the party itself or that expose Lula to criticism must be excluded from the program.
The guidelines were passed on by Edinho Silva to supporters this Thursday. Edinho arrived late to the meeting because he had been called to speak with Lula at Palácio do Planalto.
The party leadership wants the PT members to defend an interest rate below 10% per year in real terms – that is, discounting inflation –, but even this section must be left out of the debates and documents that will be produced.
The demand for an increase in inflation targets, which would facilitate a reduction in interest rates by the Central Bank, should also be excluded from the proposals.
The party’s criticism of the fiscal framework established during the Lula government should also be suppressed. Both statements about interest rates and fiscal policy could wear down the President of the Republic in the financial market.
These measures tend to cause friction within the PT. Lula’s political group is dominant in the party, but there are several currents within the party that try to move both the party and the government further to the left.
In his conversation with the PT leadership, Edinho stated that the party must compete with public opinion in the debate on combating corruption. The assessment is that the party can gain ground on this issue thanks to the case of , which so far has mainly affected the party’s political opponents.
The idea, however, is considered risky by PT members. The party became stigmatized after cases such as Lava Jato. There is a fear that public discussions about corruption will harm the party and its affiliates, like Lula, in public opinion.
The president appears in voting intention polls for the second round tied with the senator (-RJ), son of the former president (PL).
