The governor of Minas Gerais, (Novo), resigned from his position this Sunday (22) with a speech marked by criticism of the government (PT) and promises to end what he called a “corruption spree”.
“No one can bear the corruption spree any longer, no one can bear living in fear any longer, no one can bear the bills not being closed at the end of the month. No matter how much Brazilians fight, Brazil is being destroyed by this government that is there in Brasília”, the governor spoke at a ceremony in front of the Tiradentes Palace.
Zema is a pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, but still—in the most likely scenario of the last Datafolha, he had 4%, against 38% for Lula, 32% for Flávio Bolsonaro and 7% for Ratinho Junior.
The governor of MG passed the position to his deputy, Mateus Simões (). He will run for state succession and tries to attract the PL and representatives of Bolsonarism to his platform.
Last week, Simões that a possible scenario in which Zema would join the (PL) ticket as vice president could contribute to his campaign for re-election. But he recognized that the articulation is complex and goes beyond Minas Gerais.
In a speech, Zema took stock of the seven years and three months at the helm of the Minas Gerais government, reiterated an anti-corruption speech and said that Minas is an example for Brazil: “We are not a failed country, we are a stolen country […] The time has come to change the whole of Brazil.”
He also took aim at the Lula government when defending a country where “entrepreneurs are not treated as enemies and where workers can walk down the street without fear of being robbed.”
“Brazilians don’t want a perfect country. They just want a country that is theirs again, and no longer the Brazil of the untouchables,” he declared.
Mateus Simões also criticized the federal government in his speeches this Sunday, made reservations about social programs and emphasized the fight against crime.
“In Minas Gerais, only the police have the right to use force. This means that any criminal who tries to act here will be hunted down and expelled, and you will not see me saddened by the result of any police operation in which all the police officers are alive, my concern is to ensure that criminals are arrested and remain in prison”, he said.
Despite belonging to the PSD, Simões says he is committed to Zema’s national plans, and not to the names considered by his party (Ratinho Junior, and ).
In the state dispute, former Senate president Rodrigo Pacheco may leave the PSD to launch a candidacy for another party with the support of (PT).
of the PL on Simões. In addition to the possibility of supporting senator Cleitinho (Republicans), the party is also considering launching Flávio Roscoe, president of Fiemg (Federation of Industries of MG).
