with the aim of ending the polarization of the country, he will first need to unify his own party, with wings already divided between support for (PT), (PL) and (Novo).
The very act of publicizing the pre-candidacy came from outside São Paulo, where the event took place, and was ignored on social media by all 13 of the acronym’s pre-candidates for state governments and by the majority of current governors.
The lack of public support reinforces the perception of part of the party that Caiado will have room to compete, but little commitment from politicians outside of Goiás, where he is governor. This scenario will only change, they say behind the scenes, if it starts to grow in voting intention polls.
Of the party’s 7 governors (including Caiado himself), 4 did not make any comments on their social networks. , who fought to be chosen and claimed to be the only one capable of ending polarization, to say that the PSDB’s decision “tends to maintain this environment of radicalized polarization that limits our country so much.”
“Although this decision disappoints me, like many other Brazilians, due to the way they insist on doing politics in our country, I will not discuss this decision,” he stated in the video. “I believe in another path, I believe in a truly liberal, democratic center, not as a position of convenience.”
Ratinho Junior, who was the favorite to assume the presidential candidacy for the PSD and Paraná and try to make his successor, was the only governor of the party to announce Caiado’s candidacy this Monday (30). He stated that the “legend bet on a man approved as a manager, with nationally recognized work, above all, in vital areas such as education and security”.
Allies, however, claim that he has indicated behind the scenes his intention to create a double platform in the state and also support Flávio Bolsonaro, to avoid the migration of votes from the right to the senator’s (PL) candidacy for government. Listed as Ratinho’s candidate, the Secretary of Cities, Guto Silva (PSD), did not comment on the launch of Caiado’s candidacy on his social networks.
The party also has as governors Marcos Rocha (Rondônia), Raquel Lyra (Pernambuco), Fábio Mitidieri (Sergipe) and Mateus Simões (Minas Gerais).
Raquel was elected by the opposition to the PT, but since taking office she has tried to obtain support from President Lula to reduce the strength of the mayor of Recife, João Campos (PSB). She left the PSDB for the PSD precisely to make this connection with the PT member and has the support of the party leadership to remain neutral in the national dispute.
Another who has already received authorization not to campaign for Caiado is Mitidieri, the only governor elected by the PSD in 2022 who will run for re-election (the others joined the party during the current term). The governor has already publicly stated that he will support Lula’s reelection, also keeping an eye on the president’s support among northeasterners.
Mateus Simões, on the other hand, will campaign for Zema, for whom he was deputy governor until last week. In , Simões stated that Zema and Kassab are betting that Flávio’s candidacy could repeat a movement that went wrong in 2022 and voters will look for a third name. “I think this is Kassab’s reading, and that’s why he doesn’t mind giving freedom to the governors and I here support Zema,” he said.
Of the 13 PSD pre-candidates for state governments, some are already committed to other presidential candidates. Senator Omar Aziz, who will run for Government of Amazonas, is close to Lula. The PT also negotiates support for PSD candidates in Mato Grosso and Maranhão, in exchange for a platform for the president.
Former mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes is another who will run for government in an alliance with Lula and the PT, although he will try to keep the discussion more focused on local issues to win part of the right-wing votes in the birthplace of Bolsonarism.
The mayor of Chapecó, João Rodrigues (PSD), had also not published any information regarding Caiado. Two weeks ago, he posted an interview in which he defended Ratinho as the party’s candidate. In a state with a majority right-wing electorate, he will compete against governor Jorginho Mello (PL), an ally of the Bolsonaro family.
The two PSDB leaders in Congress are also close to the PT. Representative Antonio Brito, who coordinates the party’s bench in the Chamber of Deputies, fulfilled agendas in Salvador this Monday (30). Senator Eliziane Gama (MA) ignored the launch of her party’s presidential candidacy, but posted a photo with Lula two days ago.
The event in São Paulo to announce Caiado’s candidacy had low support from party politicians. Almost everyone was from São Paulo, where the event took place. One of (RJ). The governor of Goiás argued to the press that the interview was scheduled in a hurry and even he had difficulty arranging a flight that would arrive in time for the announcement.
He also stated that he will look to Leite and other supporters for support and said that the pre-candidacy is “the result of a conversation between everyone” in the party.
