Collor to 247: "Second round, only with Barbosa"
In an exclusive interview with 247, Senator and former President Fernando Collor (PTB-AL) analyzes the political landscape and states that there is no doubt about President Dilma's reelection; "the only question is whether or not there will be a second round, and only Joaquim Barbosa can trigger it"; according to Collor, Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG) has already "hit his ceiling" and the governor of Pernambuco, Eduardo Campos, of the PSB, has "short stamina"; in Alagoas, he is organizing a mega-platform of 17 parties in support of Dilma's reelection and condemns those who bet on the economic fiasco; "they made a stupid speculative attack against the government"; he also states that, in Alagoas, the natural path is the candidacy of the Senate President, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL), for governor and his own candidacy for the Senate.
Alagoas 247 – Nowhere in the Federation will President Dilma Rousseff find conditions as favorable to her reelection as in Alagoas. This assessment comes from former president and senator Fernando Collor (PTB-AL). "Here, a coalition of 17 parties will support the reelection," he told 247 in an exclusive interview. This agreement began to be forged last week at a luncheon celebrating the birthday of former governor Ronaldo Lessa, of the PDT. "In several states, we are seeing difficulties in the relationship between the PT and its allies, especially with the PMDB. Here, there is a great chance that none of that will happen."
Collor, however, states that everything will depend on the decision of the current president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL). "If Renan decides to run for governor of Alagoas, there will be consensus among the 17 parties regarding his candidacy," he said. "Otherwise, everything will have to be renegotiated." In the arrangement being put together in the state, Renan would run for governor, the vice-governor would be nominated by the PT, and Collor would complete the ticket, running for the Senate. "The ball is in Renan's court."
The former president states that this agreement is important for Dilma's reelection because the coalition of 17 parties would also mark a position against the government of Teotônio Villela, of the PSDB party. "In 2002, Lula lost to José Serra in Alagoas. In 2006, he lost again to Geraldo Alckmin. Only in 2010, when there was a strong coalition of parties supporting President Dilma, was it possible to win in the state."
According to Collor, Dilma would currently have more than 60% of the vote intention in Alagoas. "The situation in the North and Northeast is much more comfortable than in the Center-South," he states. Even so, he affirms that she will be re-elected. "On that, there is no doubt. The only question that remains is whether or not there will be a second round."
The only figure capable of forcing a second round, in Collor's view, is the current president of the Supreme Federal Court, Joaquim Barbosa. "Senator Aécio has already hit his ceiling. And Eduardo Campos' candidacy, even with Marina, has little momentum," he states. In other words, the opposition urgently needs Joaquim Barbosa's 15% in the Datafolha poll to produce a second round – where, according to Collor, it would again be defeated by the PT.
Besides the objective conditions that favor reelection, Collor affirms that Dilma deserves a second term. "Everyone who bet against her is losing," he states. "And the speculative attack against the Brazilian economy was a foolish operation," he asserts. "What sense is there in attacking an economy that has US$350 billion in reserves?"
Regarding his friendly relationship and alliance with the PT, which he defeated in 1989, Collor states that it was a natural evolution. "Since returning to the Senate, I have positioned myself very clearly in support of then-President Lula and, later, Dilma," he affirms. "Nothing is more natural than now supporting her re-election and promoting a change that can generate a new era in Alagoas."