Opposition unites with Maria Mendonça to respond to Valadares.

Valter Lima, from Sergipe 247 – State Representative Maria Mendonça (PSB) occupied the plenary of the Legislative Assembly this Wednesday (17), for more than an hour, to respond to criticisms made by Senator Antônio Carlos Valadares (PSB). All opposition deputies spoke in support of the representative and made harsh criticisms of the senator. State Representative Ana Lúcia Menezes (PT), from the government base, also considered what Valadares said to be wrong.

At the Socialist Meeting, on Friday (12), the PSB leader stated that “the illness that Marcelo Déda acquired has a lot to do with these setbacks that he went through in the Legislative Assembly”. And he reiterated, in direct criticism of deputies Maria Mendonça and Adelson Barreto: “If our deputies had not abandoned the party project, we would not be in this situation”.

Since then, with the publication of the article about the incident on the Universo Político website, the statements have gained enormous repercussion. Radio host Gilmar Carvalho broadcast the audio on his program on Ilha FM and also on the NE Notícias website. On Monday, Valadares released a statement denying that he had instructed the statement.

“During the PSB Congress, in my speech, I did not mention the names of Adelson Barreto or Maria Mendonça. When I mentioned the issue of Political Reform, I highlighted Party Loyalty as essential for strengthening parties. And I said that it was inconceivable that a party like the PSB did not have state deputies in the Legislative Assembly who were loyal to our cause, despite having two of them elected under our banner. And that this could only be corrected with the election, in 2014, of deputies committed exclusively to the PSB and to our party program,” the senator stated in a note.

On Wednesday, Maria Mendonça lamented Valadares' statements, saying that she did not act against the PSB and did not use the party to get elected, nor did she betray her group. The congresswoman stated that she was shocked by the association made between her name and Governor Marcelo Déda's health problem. She also said that Valadares forgot that she grew up with the help of her family and that she "ate from Chico de Miguel's plate," referring to her father. "I will not accept this label of traitor. This episode must be stopped," she stressed.

State Representative Susana Azevedo (PSC) stated that she was previously affiliated with the PSB but did not have the opportunity to grow within the party. Representative Zeca da Silva (PSC) made a similar statement. He also said that he was affiliated with the party led by Valadares, but did not receive enough support from the party to run for president of the Aracaju City Council. Zeca suggested a motion of censure signed by the opposition against what the senator said. Zeca said that Valadares, in addition to being reckless, was "unfair to all opposition representatives."

Deputy Zé Franco (PDT) was aggressive and stated that Valadares needed to see a psychologist. “It’s madness. He’s completely lost it,” he said. Augusto Bezerra (DEM) followed the same line and said that the PSB senator “is not normal, he’s senile.” “Hopefully it’s senility, because otherwise it’s bad faith. I’ve never seen the governor use his illness. That’s why the opposition respects him,” he stated.

Representatives Gilson Andrade (PTC), Paulinho das Varzinhas (PT do B), Antônio Passos (DEM), Antônio dos Santos (PSC), Capitão Samuel (PSL), and Angélica Guimarães (PSC) also made interjections in defense of Maria Mendonça. They all also mentioned state representative Adelson Barreto (PSB). Finally, he, who had previously stated he would not comment on the matter, briefly spoke about his political career, emphasizing that in all the elections he contested, he achieved victory regardless of party affiliation, and also said that he was in favor of Proinveste in last year's vote. "The best thing is to let the population judge," he stressed.