The PMDB party in Bahia is already discussing expelling Geddel.

The PMDB party leaders in Bahia are already discussing the possibility of expelling former minister Geddel Vieira Lima from the party. He has been away from the presidency for two months, since his first arrest, and under pressure, is about to announce his complete departure from the party (as a member). The reason is obvious: the PMDB's once-assured presence on the ticket of Mayor ACM Neto (DEM), who will be a candidate for governor of Bahia in 2018, is now threatened. Behind the scenes, even ACM's vice-mayor, Bruno Reis (a political protégé of the Vieira Lima family), no longer hides his dissatisfaction with the former minister's continued presence. To worsen Geddel's situation, the movement is gaining momentum within the PMDB's national directorate.

September 13, 2017, 18:23 PMUpdated May 28, 2019, 09:25 AM

The PMDB leaders in Bahia are already discussing the possibility of expelling former minister Geddel Vieira Lima from the party; he has been away from the presidency for two months, since his first arrest, and under pressure, is about to announce his complete departure from the party (as a member); the reason is obvious: the PMDB's once assured presence on the ticket of Mayor ACM Neto (DEM), who will be a candidate for governor of Bahia in 2018, is now threatened; behind the scenes, even ACM's vice-mayor, Bruno Reis (a political protégé of the Vieira Lima family), no longer hides his dissatisfaction with the former minister's continued presence; to worsen Geddel's situation, the movement is already gaining momentum in the PMDB's national directorate (Photo: Romulo Faro).

Bahia 247 - Although they deny it publicly, the PMDB leaders in Bahia are already discussing the possibility of expelling former minister Geddel Vieira Lima from the party. He has already been away from the presidency for two months, since his first arrest, and under pressure, he is about to announce his complete departure from the party (as a member).

The reason is obvious: the PMDB party's once-assured presence on the ticket of Mayor ACM Neto (DEM), who will be running for governor of Bahia in 2018, is now threatened. Behind the scenes, even ACM's vice-mayor, Bruno Reis, from the PMDB, no longer hides his dissatisfaction with the former minister's continued presence.

If ACM Neto does indeed run for office, the PMDB will inherit the mayoralty of Brazil's third-largest capital for half of the current mayor's term. The PMDB members also intend to nominate ACM's running mate for governor of the state or secure at least one Senate seat on the Democrats' ticket.

Behind the scenes at the Bahia State Legislative Assembly, there is unanimous concern among PMDB members about the party's direction because of Geddel. State Representative Pedro Tavares, who has been the party's interim president for two months, doesn't publicly advocate for the expulsion of the former minister, but demonstrates complete apathy. "The PMDB is bigger than individuals."

Bahia 247 has learned that Geddel's expulsion will be 'inevitable' if he is convicted – which is more likely now, after the Federal Police found R$ 51 million stored in an apartment lent to the former minister in Salvador. But there are already those who argue that the leaders of the PMDB in Bahia should not 'wait and see'.

The one who still resists with zeal the imminent expulsion of Geddel from the PMDB is his brother Lúcio Vieira Lima, the only federal deputy of the party elected by Bahia. The defense is for obvious reasons. The state directorate of the party met last night (12), and should hold another round of talks tomorrow (14) or Friday (15).