With in Paraíba, the family of the federal deputy () has in Patos, his political stronghold in the state’s backlands, an opposition that follows in the opposite, decreasing direction.
The main opposing leader is former judge Ramonilson Alves (). In the last one had 22.3% of the votes, against 73.7% of Nabor Wanderley Filho (Republicans), father of Hugo Motta. Reelected, Nabor commands the city for the fourth time (the first two terms were from 2005 to 2012).
In the previous election, in 2020, the two were also the main candidates, but the dispute was much fiercer: Nabor won with 51%, against 41% of Ramonilson.
Hugo Motta’s probable election as mayor is the apex of his family’s influence, which in Patos has been in power, directly or indirectly, since the 1950s (except small periods). The last time the opposition won in the city was in 2016, with Dinaldo Wanderley Filho (Dinaldinho), cousin of Nabor, whose father (Dinaldo Wanderley) led the municipality from 1997 to 2004 and is regarded as the final rival of the clan of clan Hugo Motta.
The setback of the group to Dinaldinho occurred at the wake of one of the political crises that marked Patos in recent years. Francisca Motta, Hugo’s grandmother, elected mayor in 2012, did not finish her term: she was removed by the court in 2016, a few months from completing it, after an operation in which Federal Prosecutor’s Office, and the Comptroller General of the Union investigated schemes corruption in cities in the region.
Ilanna Mota, mother of Hugo and daughter of Francisca, who was the city’s chief of staff, was arrested at the time and released after five days. The actions of the Federal Public Prosecution Service against the two in this case would end up considered unfounded or extinguished by the court.
But, like Francisca, Dinaldinho did not conclude the mandate, removed by the court after accusations of corruption – paving the return of Hugo Motta’s father to power.
“Undeniably, the money element was what in the end unbalanced the electoral process,” says Ramonilson about his defeats to
Highlighting his own origin (“My father was a small merchant who was once a car mechanic, my mother was a marketer”), the former judge attributes Hugo Motta’s rise less to his own merits than to the power of his ancestors.
“It was born in a financial cradle, and this greatly facilitated its career. He managed to do medicine in a private institution. He was first elected because of this economic support, and what we glimpse is a profile of those who never worked. A history of study or work, “says Ramonilson.
As a judge, he ordered Nabor Wanderley for irregular hiring of servers – after reverted by Hugo’s father. Giving a job at City Hall even without competition to raise political support is, according to the opponent, one of the keys to the group’s perpetuation in power. Motta Wanderley accuses Ramonilson of using the judiciary to pursue them politically.
Before entering politics, Ramonilson obtained in 2020 at the age of 45, a special retirement for people with disabilities (he has vision problems), which caused criticism and complaints from rivals – if he could no longer act in court, they claimed neither could it be political. The former member says he did everything in accordance with the law.
As in Brasilia, where Hugo Motta is expected to be elected mayor by one from the left to the right, in the Pato Legislature, his political group is also no harm. Of the 17 councilors of the City Council, only 1 opposes Nabor Wanderley’s management – the Bolsonarist (and monarchist) Josmá Oliveira (MDB).
In the press, the situation is no different. One of the rare communicators to publish critical news to Motta Wanderley is journalist Marcelo Negreiros, who signs a homonymous blog and worked on the opposition campaigns (both Dinaldinho and Ramonilson).
“You have to have the courage. They don’t have anyone kill, I’m not afraid. But they can try to buy,” says Negreiros, who attributes the resignation of family members in the city to their position.
He has also been sued by Mayor Nabor Wanderley, who accuses him of not being an independent journalist but an opponent.
“It’s hard, because they have more and more money and power. Now, with Hugo Motta, they will want to dominate everything once and for all, and there will be those who knock down,” says Negreiros.
In the streets of Patos, which has 108,000 inhabitants, Motta Wanderley supporters say that, under the political leadership of the family, the city has developed a lot in recent decades.
“These people who are taking over ducks, such as Nabozinho, Dona Francisca Motta and Hugo Motta, have been extraordinary for the whole region. Until 1990, our region was erased. When Edivaldo Motta was [avô materno de Hugo] and Francisca [viúva dele] They entered, there was a great advance, “says farmer Francisco de Assis Marinho Leite, 66.
He minimizes Francisca’s removal from justice and complaints and lawsuits against the family. “They proved nothing. Then he came navozinho and went over everything. And [a eleição de] Hugo [à presidência da Câmara] It will be a thousand note for the city and the region. “
In smaller numbers, critics go on the opposite path. This is the case of Helmiton Oliveira de Souza, 61, motorcycle taxi drivers since 1996 and is proud of being one of the pioneers of the activity in the city. “I came to live in Patos at 14 and saw only two families in power, Motta and Wanderley,” he says.
“If you look at how much federal money has already entered this city … a lot of money for little. The money disappears and the. I’ve watched it for years, that’s why I gave up politics. Today, if I come to pass the street, I through me a politician and dog is the same. “
And what do you think of having Hugo Motta, a son of the land, in the presidency of the House? “For me it does so much. I do not live at his expense. The Constitution says that the citizen has the right to education, health and safety. This is paid with money from the people. But the poor right is very little,” said the motorcycle taxi driver, resident From the Itatiunga neighborhood, complaining that days before he had gone to a medical post and could not be attended because the doctor had entered vacation.
