Dispute within PDT-RS will define the party's direction in 2014.

Samir Oliveira, South21 - With 19 days to go until the pre-convention that will define the fate of the PDT in Rio Grande do Sul in the 2014 elections, the factions within the party that support a party candidate for the Palácio Piratini (the governor's palace) and maintaining the alliance for the re-election of Governor Tarso Genro (PT) are intensifying their efforts to gain as much support as possible for their positions. The pre-convention will take place on December 7th and will determine, through the vote of the pre-convention delegates, whether the PDT will have its own candidate for state governor and who will represent the party.

On one side, leaders aligned with the state leadership of the party understand that it is necessary to run for governor. On the other side, dissidents from the national and state leadership and secretaries holding positions in the Rio Grande do Sul administration advocate for the PDT to remain in the coalition led by the PT.

On Monday night (18), the two groups held mobilization and strategy definition meetings. The wing that defends maintaining the alliance with the state government met at the Legislative Assembly with more than 100 militants and 18 mayors and released a document criticizing the idea of ​​having its own candidate. Today, the president of the PDT in Rio Grande do Sul, Romildo Bolzan Júnior, will meet with a group of mayors.

According to this group, the party should launch its own candidacy – but only in 2018. They believe that the PDT does not have the electoral potential to support a majoritarian contest this year. Furthermore, they question the viability of an alliance policy that could maintain the party's coherence – since they consider that, in the current coalition with the PT, PCdoB, PTB, PRB, and PR, they are within the same political and ideological camp.

This group's strategy consists of defending the party's continued presence in the Palácio Piratini (the governor's palace) and, in case of defeat, defending the name of former congressman Aldo Pinto for the internal dispute with Vieira da Cunha to represent the PDT (Democratic Labour Party) on the main ticket.

On the other hand, the group that defends the independent candidacy understands that the PDT emerged strengthened from the 2012 elections in Rio Grande do Sul, where it governs about 70 municipalities, including the two most important: Porto Alegre and Caxias do Sul – which support the launch of its own candidacy. "The results of the 2012 elections authorize the PDT to launch its own candidate for governor. We have 70 mayoralties and 700 councilors and spectacular vote counts in the two largest electoral districts," states Deputy Vieira da Cunha.

The parliamentarian believes it is necessary to launch their own candidacy "in the name of the political legacy built by the labor movement." "Those who advocate supporting Governor Tarso's reelection are unaware of the state's political reality. Today, we find enormous receptiveness from various political parties to the invitation we have extended to join us in a competitive coalition," he points out.

Vieira da Cunha explains that, as a pre-candidate for the Piratini Palace (the governor's residence), he is already in talks with the PSD, DEM, PPS, PV, PR, PRB, and PSB parties. "Today we have concrete prospects of forming a coalition that includes more than 100 federal deputies, which will guarantee us competitive radio and television airtime," he predicts.

Also supporting the idea of ​​running their own candidate are the president of the PDT in Rio Grande do Sul, Romildo Bolzan Júnior, federal deputy Ênio Bacci, state deputies Gilmar Sossella, Gerson Burmann and Vinícius Ribeiro, as well as former governor Alceu Collares.

The argument for maintaining the alliance with Governor Tarso Genro is defended by the state secretaries of the Mayors' Office, Afonso Motta, of Health, Ciro Simoni, of Sports and Leisure, Kalil Sehbe, and by the vice-president of Banrisul, Flávio Lammel. In the Legislative Assembly, state deputies Juliana Brizola, Marlon Santos, and Décio Franzem support the proposal.

Secretary Ciro Simoni believes that a party-backed candidacy would not be viable at this time. He notes that, despite having stood alongside Vieira da Cunha in the last elections and being a personal friend, he believes that the PDT should not launch its own candidacy because it is isolated in terms of partnerships. "The media is very important in elections; visibility is essential. And we have very limited television and radio time," he explains.

The issue has been discussed since the beginning of the year, and Simone assures that her position has remained the same, which she communicated to the party leadership before any public statement. "I am openly voting in favor of continuing the project with the PT, which we have maintained since 2011. I adhere to the idea that it's best to take a small step back now in order to take two steps forward later, and in 2018 have a strong candidacy," she maintains. The secretary believes that a large part of the party shares a similar view.

Débora Fogliatto contributed to this report.