With Pimentel, Lula tries to take over Aécio's territory.
Former president met this Friday (14) with federal and state deputies from the PT, PMDB, PRB and PC do B of Minas Gerais to begin discussions on the pre-candidacy of former minister Fernando Pimentel (PT) for the state government; "We have to show the limitations and weaknesses of the PSDB government and what can be improved with the PT. In fact, almost all the important works and social actions that take place in Minas are with money from the federal government. It was already like that in my government and it increased with the government of a woman from Minas," he said earlier in an interview; Minas has been under the command of the PSDB since 2002, when Aécio Neves was elected governor for the first time.
247 - Determined to seize power in Minas Gerais, former President Lula began his tour of the state this Friday (14) to promote the candidacy of former minister Fernando Pimentel. Lula met with federal and state deputies from the PT, PMDB, PRB and PC do B in Minas Gerais, as well as the PT's pre-candidate for governor. The state has been a stronghold of the PSDB since 2002, when Aécio Neves, now a senator, was elected governor of the state for the first time. In the same year, Lula became president of the Republic.
Speaking about his relationship with Minas Gerais, Lula recalled that he has been traveling to the state since 1978. "Few people have had the opportunity to travel through Minas as much as I have." Earlier, in an interview published by the newspaper O Tempo, he stated that the strategy to defeat the PSDB in the state is "to show the limitations and weaknesses of the PSDB government and what can be improved with the PT."
"In fact, almost all the important works and social actions that take place in Minas Gerais are funded by the federal government. This was already the case during my administration, and it increased under the government of a woman from Minas Gerais. Sometimes the state changes the names of the programs, but most of the money continues to be federal. We have an excellent pre-candidate, Minister Fernando Pimentel, who is even leading in the polls, and we will work to ensure that he is supported by the PMDB and all the parties in the federal government's base. I am certain that the PT, as always, will conduct its campaign by engaging in dialogue throughout the state with social movements, youth, intellectuals, the business community, and sectors that desire a new political and social direction for Minas Gerais," she stated.