João Alves should give up on reelection.

By Diógenes Brayner, from FaxAju

A whirlwind of still dubious news shook Aracaju this Sunday (31) regarding the withdrawal of the candidacy of Mayor João Alves Filho (DEM) for reelection since a probable launch of the pre-candidacy of state deputy Robson Viana (PEN) for mayor of the Capital, with the support of DEM.

It was a day of turbulence and difficulties in obtaining any information that was even minimally reliable. At every moment what had been disclosed ceased to be true and a new fact presented itself as truthful. The much-vaunted ticket led by Robson Viana, which had Secretary Juvêncio Oliveira (DEM) as its vice-president, succumbed during Saturday (30) and resurfaced with full force from 17 pm this Sunday.

Of the information available, the only certainty was the interview that Mayor João Alves Filho would give this Monday (08/01), at 10:30 am, in the auditorium of the CDL in Aracaju, when he would announce his decision regarding the municipal election in October. However, late Sunday night, the mayor canceled the press conference.

There is doubt regarding Robson Viana's candidacy for mayor, although he called some of his friends and allies, announcing that he would be running with the support of the DEM party. He did this late Sunday afternoon, calling one of the vice-mayor candidates and confirming his ticket.

Then there was a real scramble, but politicians very close to the mayor didn't confirm it and didn't even know. Some councilors announced the mayor's withdrawal from the race. But there was a hint of doubt about it. João Alves Filho managed to keep his announcement for this Monday in absolute secrecy, despite the conversation he had with Vice Mayor José Carlos Machado and councilor Valdir Santos (PTdoB).

Home – The first news that Mayor João Alves Filho would no longer run for reelection came with the meeting he had on Tuesday (26), when he had a conversation with the national president of DEM, Senator José Agripino Maia, to whom he went to communicate that he would not be a candidate because he did not have the resources to finance his campaign and would need the greater presence of the party to be able to contest it.

On Wednesday (27) João Alves Filho traveled to Brasília and had an audience with the Minister of Cities, Bruno Araújo, alongside the Secretary of Infrastructure, Socorro Cacho. He was supposed to return to Aracaju on the same day, but postponed it to Thursday (21) and had breakfast with Robson Viana, to announce his decision to support him as a candidate for mayor of Aracaju.

The news about João's choice of Robson spread more intensely after the two returned to Aracaju on Thursday afternoon, and intensified that same evening when Robson called Governor Jackson Barreto around 22 pm, asking for an 'urgent' conversation to discuss his candidacy.

Anticipate – When Jackson Barreto received the phone call from Robson Viana, he was in Tobias Barreto, participating in the PMDB convention, which was officially announcing Diógenes Almeida's candidacy for mayor of the municipality. He cut his trip short and met with Robson at his house before midnight. He was informed of his pre-candidacy and reportedly asked for his support.

A source close to JB said that the governor reportedly stated he did not wish to discuss the matter and added that he would maintain his full support for the candidacy of Edvaldo Nogueira (PCdoB) and Eliane Aquino (PT). On Saturday, Jackson traveled to conventions in several cities and spent the night in Canindé do São Francisco, where he inaugurated the municipality's new waterfront.

Allies of João Alves Filho, including councilors and pre-candidates, found it strange that Robson Viana, after being invited to run for mayor, consulted Jackson about whether he would then run as an opposition candidate. There is also surprise within João's bloc regarding the way Robson Viana acts with such ease between the governor and the mayor, even though they are adversaries.

One fact, however, is well defined among the parties that support João Alves Filho: there is unanimity among the pre-candidates for city council that their vote is for the ticket with João as mayor and José Carlos Machado (PSDB) as vice-mayor.