Opposition to define candidate in Bahia by the 31st.

Mayor ACM Neto is becoming convinced that he can't delay much longer for the opposition parties to define their positions because the government bloc is already out in the streets with the choice of the Workers' Party member Rui Costa to run for mayor to succeed Jaques Wagner; it's up to the Democrats to choose the head of the ticket between the PMDB member Geddel Vieira Lima and the former governor Paulo Souto, of the DEM; with Geddel, ACM has a promise to reciprocate the PMDB's support in the 2012 mayoral race; with Souto, the mayor is motivated by opinion polls.

January 22, 2014, 16:43 AMUpdated May 27, 2019, 08:39 AM

Mayor ACM Neto is already convinced that it won't take much longer for the opposition parties to define their positions because the government bloc is already out in the streets with the choice of PT member Rui Costa to run for Jaques Wagner's successor; it's up to the Democrat to choose the head of the ticket between PMDB member Geddel Vieira Lima and former governor Paulo Souto, of the DEM; with Geddel, ACM has a promise to reciprocate the PMDB's support in the 2012 mayoral race; with Souto, the mayor is motivated by opinion polls (Photo: Romulo Faro)

Romulo Faro, from Bahia 247 Although he preaches 'tranquility' and advocates announcing the candidate who will head the possible single ticket of the opposition to the state government only after Carnival, in March, Mayor ACM Neto (DEM) is already becoming convinced that he also cannot delay much longer for the parties to define themselves because the government bloc is already on the streets with the choice of PT member Rui Costa to run for the succession of Jaques Wagner.

Deputy Lúcius Vieira Lima, vice-leader of the PMDB in the Chamber of Deputies, states in a note in the Poder Online column of the iG portal that the opposition's decision should be known by the 31st of this month. "The commitment is that we will have an internal decision on the name by the end of January."

As the process leader, it is up to ACM Neto to choose the head of the ticket between Geddel Vieira Lima of the PMDB party and former governor Paulo Souto of the DEM party.

With Geddel, ACM has a promise to reciprocate the PMDB's support in the second round of the 2012 Salvador mayoral election.

With Paulo Souto, the mayor is motivated by opinion polls, which show the former governor tied with Geddel for first place.

Paulo Souto is also favored by the clamor from the PSDB party, which intends to launch João Gualberto, a businessman and former mayor of the municipality of Mata de São João, as his running mate. The PSDB members do not have 100% confidence in the alliance with the PMDB.

The main opposition parties to Bahia's governor Jaques Wagner (PT) have defined the timetable for choosing the candidate who will face the PT in this year's election.

Read also: ACM Neto will lead the strategy to oppose the PT in Bahia.

"The commitment is that we will have an internal decision on the name by the end of January," said Congressman Lúcio Vieira Lima (PMDB-BA).

The two strongest names in this race are Paulo Souto (DEM) and Lima's brother, Geddel Vieira Lima (PMDB).

Will it crack?

The possibility of the opposition splitting into more than one ticket to challenge the PT is not ruled out. At least that's what Geddel makes clear. Although speculation is growing that he would be a candidate for the Senate on a ticket possibly headed by Paulo Souto, the PMDB member is categorical: "Either I run for governor or I don't run for anything."