Marcelo Lélis is officially nominated as Marcelo Miranda's running mate.
Despite emphasizing during his visits to 106 municipalities that his candidacy for governor was "irreversible and irrevocable," Marcelo Lélis was forced to abandon the leadership of his Movement for an Alternative of Change after the PT (Workers' Party) supported the PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) at the behest of the national executive; the Alternative of Change was handed over to former governor Marcelo Miranda; the same man who, less than a month ago, witnessed Marcelo Lélis say in a speech that the people no longer wanted a change of power.
Tocantins 247 – At a convention held this Monday, the 30th, the Green Party officially nominated state representative Marcelo Lélis as its candidate for vice-governor on the PMDB ticket, which has Marcelo Miranda as its candidate for governor and Kátia Abreu running for re-election to the Senate. "I believe in our victory because the people believe in us," Lélis stated during the party convention.
According to an agreement between the national PMDB and PT parties, the PT would renounce its own candidacy to support the PMDB candidate and nominate the candidate for vice-governor. The PT opted to nominate the candidate to be the alternate senator for Kátia Abreu, and instead of Milne Freitas, the party nominated Donizeti Nogueira. Now it is known who was supposed to be the vice-governor candidate.
Despite emphasizing in all the visits he made to the 106 municipalities he traveled that his candidacy for governor was "irreversible and irrevocable," Marcelo Lélis found himself forced to abandon the leadership of his Movement for an Alternative of Change. And even saw it somewhat distorted.
The Alternative for Change was delivered to former governor Marcelo Miranda. The same one who, less than a month ago, witnessed Marcelo Lélis say in a speech that the people no longer wanted alternation of power. "What we have seen in these 25 years is the alternation of power. The population is more mature and now wants a new alternative. An alternative that presents a real change project for the State" (read here).
Marcelo Lélis had been courted to join the PMDB ticket since January. Senator Kátia Abreu herself admitted this to... Tocantins 247 that the ideal ticket would have her running for reelection, Marcelo Miranda for governor, with Marcelo Lélis and Roberto Pires (who at the time was a pre-candidate) (read here).
Problems with the Electoral Court
Regardless of whether Lélis decides to withdraw from the gubernatorial race, the ticket of Marcelo Miranda, Marcelo Lélis, and Kátia Abreu has great electoral potential. Miranda is seen as the leader in internal polls, and Lélis is polling well.
While electorally viable, the candidacies of both Marcelos are likely to face difficulties in the Electoral Court. This is because former governor Marcelo Miranda was removed from office by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and had his 2009 accounts rejected by the State Court of Auditors (TCE) and the Legislative Assembly. He is ineligible in both cases. He maintains that he is eligible.
Lélis, however, had his eight-year ineligibility sentence upheld by the Regional Electoral Court (TRE) for abuse of economic power, with excessive spending on campaign workers and distribution of gasoline in the 2012 elections, when he ran for Mayor of the Capital.
If they pass through the Electoral Court, they will be strong candidates to prevent the re-election of Governor Sandoval Cardoso (SD).