Armando's candidacy complicates the succession in Pernambuco.

Paulo Emílio_PE247 Senator Armando Monteiro Neto (PTB) has explicitly stated his desire to run for governor of Pernambuco in the next major elections. “I see public life as a true calling to serve. Some say politics is a priesthood, and I dream of one day governing my state to be an instrument of transformation for our country,” said the parliamentarian during a bloggers' meeting held in Recife (PE). Despite this explicit desire, Armando emphasizes that this possibility will only be achievable if he has the support of the Popular Front, led by Governor Eduardo Campos (PSB), who has not yet commented on the matter. The candidacy complicates the governor's situation, as he will have to decide who will have his support in 2014, since the Minister of National Integration, Fernando Bezerra Coelho (PSB), also aspires to the position.

Armando has been working hard with his base in the interior of the state to strengthen his name for the election. Simultaneously, he has been strengthening his relationships with the PSB and the governor, who is seeking to run for the presidency in 2014. In this vein, Armando has proven to be an important figure, positioning himself, along with Jarbas Vasconcelos (PMDB-PE), as one of Campos's main strategists in the Senate and, especially, with PTB parliamentarians. It is based on this work and the broad support base he has in the interior of the state that Armando hopes to be favored by Eduardo Campos. "There is only a possibility of discussion within this field (of the Popular Front)," he stated.

But following the national strategy that the 2014 elections will only be discussed in 2014, neither Eduardo nor the PSB are commenting on the matter. Sources linked to the PTB, however, believe that this choice faces obstacles within the PSB itself. “Many people in the PSB think that Armando reached the Senate thanks to Eduardo's support. In that case, he (the governor) would have already done his part, owing nothing to Armando, and therefore shouldn't hand over the government to someone who isn't from the PSB. But Armando has been working hard for Eduardo, whether with the PTB or several other parties,” says a source with good connections within the party.

Another point to consider is the situation of the Minister of National Integration, Fernando Bezerra Coelho (PSB). Fernando has also stated that he wants to be chosen by Campos to run for Governor of the State. Considered a trusted man of the governor and in charge of a ministry responsible for major projects, such as the transposition of the São Francisco River, FBC has also been actively campaigning with mayors and his base in the interior of the state.

The difficulty for him, however, lies in his increasingly close relationship with the PT (Workers' Party). At recent events related to his ministry, attended by President Dilma Rousseff (PT), FBC was showered with praise and reciprocated. He even stated that he favors maintaining the PT-PSB alliance, contradicting the party's desire to launch its own presidential candidate in 2014. Rumors behind the scenes suggest that, due to this rapprochement and the lack of a clear position on whether or not he will succeed Eduardo Campos, the minister has already been approached about joining the PT. If he makes the move, FBC could gain the support of the Workers' Party to run for governor of the state, positioning himself against his political mentor.

Given the volatile situation at the state level, which, depending on how it's handled, could have repercussions on the national stage, the PSB is trying to buy time by carefully evaluating the issue. It remains to be seen whether its allies will also know how to wait and act in the same vein as Campos, that the 2014 elections should be postponed until 2014.