"The candidate is Dilma"

Romulo Faro - Bahia 247

Governor Jaques Wagner (PT) once again dismissed the possibility of speculation surrounding a potential candidacy of former President Lula in 2014 becoming a reality. "The candidate is Dilma, and our plan is for her to run for re-election."

In an interview with Balanço Geral, on TV Itapoan/Record this Wednesday (6), the head of the Bahia Executive reaffirmed the "tendency" to stay in office until the end of the term to "help" the re-election of President Dilma Rousseff.

Wagner was considered a key figure in orchestrating the overwhelming victory that the head of state had in the Northeast in 2010, and is considered by the national PT party to be the coordinator of the reelection campaign next year.

However, there is another possibility for Jaques Wagner's political strategy in 2014, despite his claim that he will remain in office until the end of his term. This possibility involves the candidate for his succession, who will likely be chosen from among Senator Walter Pinheiro, the Chief of Staff of Bahia, Rui Costa, and the State Planning Secretary, José Sérgio Gabrielli, all from the PT (Workers' Party).

Some members of the Workers' Party are saying that Wagner would be a candidate for senator on the government's ticket, with one of the three mentioned above as the head of the ticket, and, with the high probability of him becoming a minister in Dilma's re-election (Wagner was Minister of Labor in Lula's first government), the president of the Legislative Assembly of Bahia, Deputy Marcelo Nilo, from the PDT, would assume the Senate seat, as he is expected to be Wagner's alternate.

Therefore, the governor would be able to appease one of the names from his base, but from another party. However, the path is arduous, and Wagner knows this, as there are still figures in the picture such as Senator and president of the PSB in Bahia, Lídice da Mata, and the vice-governor and state president of the PSD, Otto Alencar, whose name is put forward by the former mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab.

Dilma at the Salvador Carnival

Also in the interview with Balanço Geral, Governor Jaques Wagner confirmed that the president will spend the Carnival festivities staying at the União reserve on Inema Beach, in São Thomé de Paripe, a railway suburb of the Bahian capital.

"She's coming again. She's coming to spend Carnival here, resting at the Inema base. She liked it so much that she's coming again; she should be arriving either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. She really enjoyed being able to take a little walk, to have some peace and quiet with her daughter and grandson," said the Workers' Party member.

Continuing his conversation with President Dilma Rousseff, Jaques Wagner spoke about the project that, if it comes to fruition, will undoubtedly leave him with the mark of a great administrator, earning the gratitude of the people: the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge. This would be one of the greatest projects ever undertaken by a governor of Bahia.

To that end, the Workers' Party member claims he will have the support of President Dilma, which makes the project much more viable.

"Now I am hiring the last consulting firm to finalize the bidding documents for the environmental and engineering aspects, and the definitive bidding documents for the first quarter of 2014. I want to leave the government in December 2014 having kicked off this bridge project, the beginning of its construction. President Dilma's commitment is more than justified. I spoke with her again. At the time, I showed her the trajectory of the bridge, so she is fully aware. A project of this magnitude, with investments of R$ 7 billion, 12 km of bridge over the sea, considering even the transit of ships, I want to plan better now so that when we start, it will finally go ahead."

Those opposed to the Wagner administration see the movement regarding the project as an election ploy, aimed at benefiting the PT candidate in the race for the Palácio de Ondina in 2014.