The rhetoric still emphasizes unity, but the practice...
The last chance for an understanding within the opposition regarding the Recife mayoral race has vanished; Raul Henry (PMDB) and Mendonça Filho (DEM) failed to reach an agreement and are expected to launch their own mayoral candidacies. Now, the bloc has four candidates; Raul Jungmann (PPS) and Daniel Coelho are also in the running.
Beatriz Braga _PE247 – Debates were held jointly, ideas launched on the same profile, but the Recife opposition – which sold a discourse of unity against the PT project in the Pernambuco capital – failed to reach an understanding on the municipal succession. The fragmentation of the opposition bloc, which will probably head four candidacies, all seeking the openings that the internal wear and tear of the PT may open after its primary process. In a meeting on Wednesday (12), federal deputies Raul Henry (PMDB) and Mendonça Filho (DEM) did not advance in the discussion of a partnership between them in the October election and signaled that they will march with their own projects.
The failed agreement between the PMDB member and the Democrat would be one of the last possible alliance scenarios within the opposition. The other two irreversible figures in the bloc, Raul Jungmann (PPS) and Daniel Coelho (PSDB), have already officially announced their pre-candidacies. Although yesterday's meeting did not eliminate the possibility of them running together, both opposition figures show no signs of giving up on their desire to lead this year's campaign.
Although the meeting served to ease potential tensions should the candidacies be confirmed, Mendonça does not hide the fact that the opposition will only have a chance if it fights for some kind of agreement. “I will build my candidacy by maintaining a high-level dialogue. Because the opposition, if it wants to have a chance of success, has to maintain a minimum convergence. Now, I don't have control over it and I can't determine the path of A or B,” he stated in an interview with Jornal do Commercio.
The discourse was the same one preached by Jungmann until the date he officially announced his candidacy at the end of March. The post-communist had been criticizing the lack of definitions from his opposition colleagues, suggesting deadlines for the announcement of possible alliances, or lack thereof.
The future confirmation of multiple opposition candidates reveals the fact that the bloc is as divided as the base of Mayor João da Costa (PT). However, it refuses to admit it.