The crisis, Renan, and the political vacuum in the Northeast.

The current economic difficulties, coupled with political tensions in the National Congress, could represent an opportunity for the emergence of some new leadership, especially after last year's elections. But that is not what has been happening.

The end of the terms of former governors Jaques Wagner, of Bahia, and Cid Gomes, of Ceará, and the tragic death of former presidential candidate and former governor of Pernambuco, Eduardo Campos, have left a huge leadership vacuum in the Northeast.

The political crisis has left the current governors silent. Before taking office, they held several meetings to develop agendas of common interest. One of these was to recreate the CPMF tax, with the proceeds exclusively for healthcare, a line of credit for the first half of 2015 called Proinveste Nordeste for infrastructure investments, among other demands.

One of the most active voices in defending this agenda was that of Governor Renan Filho (PMDB-AL). But he too has quieted down. He knows that anything he says about the political situation or defends, as in the case of the CPMF (a proposed tax on financial transactions), can be interpreted as if he were speaking on behalf of his father, the president of the Federal Senate, Renan Calheiros.

Thus, this is a time of political retreat for some. For others, it is a time of backroom talks, as must have occurred between Renan Filho and the Pernambuco governor Paulo Câmara (PSB), yesterday (18). Or does anyone still believe that he came to Alagoas just to see how we manage prisons, when he could have simply sent technicians from the area?

Now, if governors wait for this crisis to subside, they may miss a great opportunity early in their terms. Moreover, nothing prevents issues of interest to an entire region from being put up for discussion.

Issues such as state debt, the vote on the merits of Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADIN) 4917, which allows the Oil Royalties Law to come into effect, and the CPMF itself, for example, need to be included on the current national political agenda.

This presents an opportunity for Renan Filho to assume leadership among the governors of the Northeast and begin solidifying his name, even with the powerful shadow of his father looming.

Politics is about occupying space, especially when there is a huge vacuum.