After the final refusal of the senator (-MG), the president began to consider the candidacy of the former mayor of Contagem Marília Campos (PT) for the Government of Minas.
The president had been defending her name for the Executive. The former mayor herself has already warned the PT that she does not intend to run for government, but rather for the Senate.
But Pacheco’s refusal, added to those considered by the party, led the president to think about Marília for the dispute.
As Marília resists the proposal, Lula’s allies do not rule out the possibility of him trying to convince her, if the party opts for this homemade solution.
Lula’s move is seen with reservations, since Marília already has her candidacy for the Senate organized. According to two people close to the former mayor, she has also stated that she prefers not to be a candidate for the Minas Gerais government.
In a meeting with the PT bench, the party president, Edinho Silva, pointed out Marília’s name as ideal. He said, however, that Kalil should be considered a good candidate. Another name mentioned is that of the former rector of UFMG Sandra Goulart.
Lula has stated in recent days that he wants to quickly resolve the situation in Minas, the second largest electoral college in the country.
At the request of the PT member, the vice-president of the Republic, (PSB), spoke with Pacheco on Monday (25). During the almost two-hour meeting, the senator repeated that he has no interest in running for the Government of Minas Gerais — a message that Alckmin has already conveyed to Lula.
Members of PT de Minas were waiting for this last conversation with Pacheco to try to move forward with the matter. The assessment among PT members is that negotiations in the state ended up stalled in recent months due to Lula’s insistence on Pacheco’s candidacy — despite all the contrary signals given by the senator in recent months.
According to reports, an appeal was made to Edinho Silva on Monday, so that the PT can turn the page on Pacheco’s candidacy, making it clear that the senator rules out running and it is no longer an option.
Part of the PT also defended Edinho’s construction of his own candidacy. In the view of a wing of the party, as the priority is to guarantee a platform for Lula in the state, instead of actually electing the next governor, it is preferable that efforts are dedicated to someone from the PT, instead of the PSB.
One of the names that started to be put forward by the PSB is that of the businessman, son of former vice-president José Alencar, recently affiliated to the party. Another option would be former Attorney General Jarbas Soares. He is close to Pacheco and joined the party along with the senator’s political group.
A wing of the PT also proposes the name of the former mayor of (PDT) for the dispute. The president of the PDT, Carlos Lupi, was called to try to come up with a solution that would make Kalil’s platform viable for Lula in Minas.
Members of the PT leadership also sought out Kalil last week, but the conversation was considered bad. Although he is a PED supporter, he has stated that he will not open his platform to presidential candidates.
This Tuesday, an audio of Kalil began circulating in the PT electoral group in which he states that only those he leaves will come to his platform and that no one will push him to victory or defeat.
PT leaders argue, however, that, in the face of polarization, Kalil will be forced to openly support Lula. They also remember the need for a strong bench in the Senate, with Marília being one of the favorites in Minas.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL-RJ) platform in the state has not been defined either, but the party has forwarded a mutual support agreement with Senator Cleitinho, from the Republicans. Cleitinho says he intends to decide whether he will actually be a candidate by next month. Businessman Flávio Roscoe has been used by PL as plan B.
