The affiliation of the vice-governor of São Paulo, Felício Ramuth, to the MDB has repercussions beyond the party change. The articulation, with the direct participation of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), brings to the core of the government a party currently courted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and reinforces the governor’s intention to control his succession in the State, disputed by PL and PSD.
In the assessment of São Paulo emedebists interviewed by the Estadãoby taking the MDB to vice-president in the country’s main electoral college, Tarcísio practically buried the party’s chances of competing nationally with Lula, and the party must adopt a position of neutrality.
In 2022, after years in the PSDB, Ramuth joined the PSD with the plan of running for governor of São Paulo, but gave up his candidacy to serve as Tarcísio’s vice-president. The decision was part of a bold bet by Gilberto Kassab, national president of the PSD, to end Tucano hegemony of almost 30 years in the State. It worked and the team emerged victorious.
Throughout the government, Ramuth gained space and came to be seen as a loyal deputy, becoming closer to the governor than to Kassab himself. With the election on the horizon, Tarcísio began to defend his remaining on the re-election ticket with his allies.
The movement collided with Kassab’s plans, who was working to fill the vice position and, from there, become viable as state successor. According to allies, Kassab does not hide that his personal project is to become the governor of São Paulo – and being deputy to a second-term governor, would increase his chances.
The strategy goes back to 2004, when, then a federal deputy for the PFL, Kassab pitched in to be José Serra’s vice-president in the race for São Paulo City Hall. Serra resisted his name, but gave in to party pressure. The maneuver took Kassab to command of the capital of São Paulo and paved the way for structuring the PSD, which in 2024 became the party with the largest number of city halls in the country, displacing the MDB.
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Kassab understands that, as he was responsible for Ramuth’s nomination, the supporter should pave the way for him to occupy the position in this election, say sources at Palácio dos Bandeirantes. However, as Ramuth was willing to continue in the race, Kassab decided that it was better to run the risk of not having the party on the majority ticket than to keep it in the party.
The impasse, which the government treats as a personal disagreement, which does not affect the relationship between Kassab and Tarcísio, led to a break between the two this week, and Ramuth started looking for another party to make it possible for him to remain on the ticket.
The choice of the MDB, anticipated by the Estadãohad the approval and participation of Tarcísio. According to allies, the governor understood that it was time to bring the party closer to his management. Until then, the MDB did not occupy any position at the top level of state management.
In a video announcing the party change, Ramuth says that “politics is dynamic” and requires “mainly clarity of direction”. “With serenity and a sense of responsibility, I decided to follow a new path, always aligned with the project led by governor Tarcísio”, stated the vice-governor of São Paulo.
In the municipal election, Tarcísio had already approached MDB leaders – in addition to the capital’s mayor, Ricardo Nunes, and the party’s national president, federal deputy Baleia Rossi (SP). His performance in the MDB campaign was considered decisive for Nunes’ victory.
In the opinion of members of the São Paulo MDB and also of the government, Ramuth’s arrival has symbolic weight and, therefore, buries the party’s chances of an alliance with Lula this year.
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There is also the view that, by sponsoring Ramuth’s visit to the MDB, the governor sends a political message: he wants to maintain control over the choice of vice president and, consequently, his succession. In addition to the PSD, the PL is trying to place the president of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp), André do Prado, in the vacancy.
If re-elected, Tarcísio will be in his second term, and the vice-president will now be seen as a potential natural successor – as was the case with Geraldo Alckmin, then Mário Covas’ vice-president. Therefore, according to interlocutors, the governor wants to choose someone he trusts, and not a party nominee with whom he will have to negotiate further.
Although Tarcísio signals to allies that the tendency is to keep Felício Ramuth as vice-president, the decision is not yet “written in stone”, according to the governor’s interlocutors, and confirmation should be closer to the electoral calendar.
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