"I couldn't refuse Dilma and Lula's request."
Senator Marta Suplicy withdraws from the race for mayor of São Paulo; the former president, who asked her to withdraw from the race, was the first to know; I called Lula this morning. We're going to have lunch; Marta did not declare support for Fernando Haddad; I promise to work hard.
247, with information from Agência Estado - Senator Marta Suplicy (PT-SP) officially announced today her withdrawal from the pre-candidacy for Mayor of São Paulo in next year's elections. The announcement was made in a packed auditorium during a meeting with journalists at the headquarters of the PT's National Directorate in the capital this afternoon. The PT member had been leading the polls of the main research institutes and with her departure from the race, the candidacy of the Minister of Education, Fernando Haddad, a protégé of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, gains strength.
Marta's decision to withdraw her pre-candidacy should prevent the PT (Workers' Party) from holding primaries – scheduled for the 27th of this month – to choose the party's candidate who will run to succeed Mayor Gilberto Kassab in 2012. Regarding this, Marta was emphatic: "In a primary, everyone would lose. I'm going for the jugular."
The senator took into consideration the request from President Dilma Rousseff and former President Lula to withdraw from the race in favor of Minister Fernando Haddad's candidacy. "I couldn't say no to a request from President Dilma and former President Lula. A request from both of them is irrefutable. I will remain silent until the end of this process. I am withdrawing from the race wholeheartedly."
The PT leadership believes that the other pre-candidates – federal deputies Jilmar Tatto and Carlos Zarattini, and senator Eduardo Suplicy – will also withdraw from the race, even if they officially deny it. For the PT, in a municipal election that promises to be very close, the ideal is for the party to move forward united, from now on, around the name of Fernando Haddad.
The senator stated that she spoke with Lula today. "I called Lula this morning. We arranged a lunch." Lula told Marta that "I can't stand being at home anymore" and that he will be at the Citizenship Institute next week. "His voice sounded great," said Marta.