Demands on João to support Amorim distance DEM from PSC.

Sergipe 247 - Public collection, done yesterdayThe endorsement by federal deputy André Moura (PSC) to mayor João Alves Filho (DEM) of support for Senator Eduardo Amorim (PSC) in the race for governor of the state may have the opposite effect to that desired by the main opposition group in the state – instead of bringing them closer, it could definitively distance the DEM leader from the PSC senator's electoral project. This is the assessment of journalist Gilvan Manoel, in column that he signs this Friday (17) in Jornal do Dia.

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Obligation to support?

Previously, these were just insinuations on radio programs or messages through social media. Now, Senator Eduardo Amorim's (PSC) allies are increasingly direct, demanding reciprocity and support from Mayor João Alves Filho (DEM) in the elections for state governor. They claim that João was only elected mayor of Aracaju in 2012, in the first round, because of the group's support.

Yesterday it was the turn of federal deputy André Moura (PSC), a kind of jack-of-all-trades for the party and companion of Eduardo Amorim on his travels through the interior of the state, to make the demand. In his numerous daily interviews, he made incisive demands, practically requiring the support of the mayor of Aracaju, as if it were an obligation. Or as if João Alves had made a promise to that effect in order to obtain the group's support in the municipal campaign.

The scenario isn't as they portray it: despite the dominance of 11 parties, the Amorim brothers didn't prepare their own team to compete effectively for the Aracaju mayoralty. They negotiated with various parties and candidates, flirted with federal deputy Almeida Lima, then with the PTB party, until the very last minute, and only in the early hours of the last day scheduled for party conventions did they decide to support João Alves. This was mainly due to his close relationship with the now vice-mayor José Carlos Machado (PSDB) and in an attempt to piggyback on his electoral support, since when his name began circulating as a likely candidate, João never received less than 50% of the vote – he won with 52% of the valid votes.

The parties of the Amorim brothers inflated João Alves's electoral advertising time on TV by 3 minutes, but had no participation in the electoral campaign. Senator Amorim and his brother Edvan only appeared at the convention that ratified the ticket, on June 30, 2012, in Cotinguiba, and remained isolated in a corner of the club. They did not participate in the walks, visits to the neighborhoods, or even the few rallies held throughout the campaign.

Behind the scenes at DEM, they also say that they did not contribute financially to João Alves' campaign, who, despite leading the entire campaign and winning in the first round, faced a lack of resources and difficulties in paying expenses.

After being elected, João Alves did not allow the Amorim family to nominate a single person for his cabinet, not even as deputy secretary or director of any municipal company. Even so, the councilors elected by the group maintain their support for the mayor.

As in 2012, João Alves remains in a much more comfortable political position than the Amorim brothers. At least so far, he leads all polls conducted for the state government and may have the right to choose his own path: run for governor, form an alternative ticket and remain mayor, support the Amorim brothers, or even join Governor Jackson Barreto's reelection project.

In Sergipe's politics today, the Amorim family has become the most intransigent and arrogant group, considering itself more knowledgeable than all its adversaries combined. And they are beginning to receive the consequences of this attitude.

Earlier this week, this column reported on the discomfort of Senator Eduardo's allies with a website campaigning against the senator, allegedly maintained by employees of the Aracaju City Hall. These aides, referred to as "lackeys," are reportedly kept on at the behest of federal deputy Mendonça Prado (DEM), who is the son-in-law of Mayor João Alves. Last year, Edvan Amorim, Senator Eduardo's brother, attempted to legally prevent a group from protesting against the group's gubernatorial candidacy, but was unsuccessful.

Also on the internet, Amorim's allies attribute João Alves' victory to the support of the senator's group and conclude: "I don't see ingratitude in João Alves Filho, only leniency and an inability to keep some of his lackeys on a leash... Where will all this lead? The answer may come in 2016, the year in which Negão - make no mistake! - will try for re-election," says journalist David Leite, from the PSC, on social media.

Today, João Alves would have to overcome very difficult family barriers if he were to choose to support Eduardo Amorim's candidacy. His wife, Senator Maria do Carmo, his son-in-law, Federal Deputy Mendonça Prado, as well as his children, other relatives, and even advisors from the PMA (Aracaju Municipal Government) do not want this agreement. The more they demand reciprocity for the support given in 2014, the further the Amorim brothers may distance themselves from supporting Mayor João Alves Filho.