Eduardo's finger in the PT dispute
The governor reportedly signaled positively to Congressman João Paulo's decision to support Secretary Maurício Rands' pre-candidacy in the contest against Mayor João da Costa for the PT's nomination to succeed in Recife; however, the socialist doesn't want to make a fuss about his move.
PE247 – Federal deputy João Paulo's decision to support the pre-candidacy of the state Secretary of Government, Maurício Rands, in the Workers' Party primaries against the mayor of Recife, João da Costa, had a crucial, undisclosed figure: Governor Eduardo Campos (PSB). Before announcing his position, the former mayor spoke with several leaders of the party and the Popular Front, including the socialist governor himself. It is rumored, behind the scenes, that without Campos's approval, João Paulo would not have positioned himself as Rands's partner in his endeavor.
The lack of publicity surrounding the governor's meeting with the former mayor is due to Eduardo's own desire to avoid being caught in the middle of an internal PT dispute. However, the socialist understands that leaving the matter solely in the hands of the PT members could lead the allied party's primaries down a very damaging path for the Popular Front.
The very fact that Secretary Maurício Rands has launched his candidacy in the primaries indicates that the governor sees no problem with his aide's candidacy. It is well known that, if he did not approve of the Workers' Party member's undertaking, Eduardo would have applied whatever corrective measures he deemed necessary.
The delicate aspect of this case is that Rands is vying for the party's nomination against an elected mayor who still has eight months left in his term. If the Secretary of Government wins the internal contest, there is concern at the Palácio do Campo das Princesas (the governor's office) about how the administration of Recife will be handled.
Behind the scenes, secretaries and technicians in the State Government are not holding back in their criticism of the administration led by Mayor João da Costa. Adjectives such as "slow, centralized, and ineffective" are commonly associated with the Workers' Party member's administration. And the possibility of the mayor's defeat in the primaries is seen as a path that will worsen this situation until the end of his term. Governor Eduardo Campos, of course, is working with this scenario in mind.