The governor of , (PSD), inaugurated this Friday afternoon (1st) the main project of his administration, the Guaratuba bridge, alongside the former secretary and federal deputy (PSD), pre-candidate for the Iguaçu Palace in the October elections. The definitive release of the structure for vehicle traffic will take place this Sunday (3), at 10 am.
The government’s idea is that the work, awaited for decades by the coastal population, becomes one and helps boost the ally’s campaign, which appeared in fourth place in the .
The bridge connects Guaratuba to Matinhos, on the coast, and is only 1,240 meters long, but promises to resolve a historical bottleneck in the region, which depended on a ferry service insufficient to meet demand, especially in the summer seasons.
Built over two years at a cost of more than R$400 million, the bridge was inaugurated with pomp this Friday, with big screens and a stage for speeches by authorities — drone shows and fireworks were planned for the night. Officially, it was named “Victory Bridge”.
Before the official inauguration event, the governor gave a press interview with Sandro Alex at his side. (PSD), tipped to be a candidate for vice-governor on the PSD ticket, was also there and was mentioned by the ceremonialist as a “friend and collaborator”. The event was broadcast live on TV Paraná Turismo.
The governor’s father, businessman and television presenter Carlos Roberto Massa, known as Ratinho, who does not usually attend the inaugurations of works under his son’s administration, was also at the event.
“We are talking about a desire of more than half a century that is coming true today. It was an arduous path to overcome bureaucratic obstacles, technical environmental and engineering discussions”, said the governor, who, among other reasons, assessed that he would need to remain in office to help elect a successor.
Leader in the Quaest survey, the senator (PL) also tried to take advantage of the inauguration of the bridge. He congratulated Ratinho Junior, but added that the work would be the result of “the work of several government officials”, and that it represents “just the beginning of a new cycle of progress”.
“Many generations have dreamed of this achievement that belongs to all Paraná people”, said the former judge in a video in which he cites the legacies of all former Paraná governors since Paulo Pimentel, who administered the state in the 1960s and is the grandfather of the current mayor of Curitiba, Eduardo Pimentel (PSD).
In the list, the former judge also praises the management of (PDT), who is a staunch critic of Moro and father of one of the pre-candidates for the Iguaçu Palace, Requião Filho (PDT); Alvaro Dias (MDB), with whom Moro broke up in the 2022 elections to make his electoral intentions viable; and (PSDB), target of an arm of Operation Lava Jato and disliked by the former prosecutor (Novo), pre-candidate for the Senate on Moro’s ticket.
Sandro Alex, but now says that the operation was canceled because, among other reasons, its actors decided to enter the political process. Today he is serving his fourth term in the Chamber of Deputies, but, from 2019 until now, he spent most of his time on leave to work as Secretary of Infrastructure and Logistics in Paraná, the department responsible for works such as the Guaratuba bridge.
Sandro Alex was not Ratinho Junior’s first option for the dispute, but the governor’s favorite, former Secretary of Cities Guto Silva (PSD), did not take off in the polls.
In an interview with SheetSandro Alex said that the deliveries that the government managed to make in the area of infrastructure influenced the choice of its name. The idea now, argue allies, is for this to be explored, associating the deputy’s image with the works.
Allies believe that his position in the Quaest survey is due to the fact that the electorate does not yet know that the deputy is Ratinho Junior’s candidate. The group hammered out the choice of parliamentarian on the night of April 13, while the other competitors have been appearing as pre-candidates for a longer time.
The same survey also indicated that the current governor is highly rated. According to Quaest, 80% of voters approve of Ratinho Junior’s government, while 13% disapprove and 7% do not know how to respond.
Regarding the names presented to occupy the governor’s seat from 2027, the survey shows Moro with 35% of the voting intentions. Second place, with 18%, is state deputy Requião Filho, a name supported by the PT and the opposition group to Ratinho Junior.
Next, in third position, is the former mayor of Curitiba Rafael Greca (MDB), who . He has 15%. Sandro Alex came in fourth place, with 5% of voting intentions. Luiz França (Mission) and Tony Garcia (DC) have 1% each. Blank or null votes total 7%. Undecided are 18%.
