PSB says: "We have no reason to leave the government"

The possibility of federal deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva (PDT-SP) handing over the leadership of the newly created Solidarity party to the governor of Ceará, Cid Gomes, doesn't seem to worry the PSB; “Cid won't accept it. He shouldn't leave the party. And if Paulinho hands it over, Solidarity would be just another rented party,” summarized the PSB vice-president, Roberto Amaral; he also denied that the party intends to relinquish its positions in the federal government; “There's no reason for us to leave the government. We define our own agenda. No party, nor the press, will decide for us,” he stated.

September 02, 2013, 17:31 PMUpdated May 27, 2019, 09:45 AM

The possibility of federal deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva (PDT-SP) handing over the leadership of the newly created party, Solidariedade, to the governor of Ceará, Cid Gomes, does not seem to worry the PSB; “Cid will not accept it. He shouldn't leave the party. And if Paulinho hands it over, Solidariedade would be just another rented party,” summarized the vice-president of the PSB, Roberto Amaral; he also denied that the party intends to relinquish its positions in the federal government; “There is no reason for us to leave the government. We define our own agenda. No party, nor the press, will decide for us,” he stated (Photo: Paulo Emílio).

Paulo Emílio _PE247 - The offer that federal deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva (PDT-SP), Paulinho da Força, is expected to make this Tuesday (03), in Fortaleza, to the governor of Ceará, Cid Gomes, for him to accept the leadership of the party he is creating, Solidariedade, does not seem to worry the PSB leadership. “Cid will not accept. He is not expected to leave the party. And if Paulinho hands over (the leadership of the party), Solidariedade would be just another rented party,” summarized the national vice-president of the PSB, Roberto Amaral. Regarding the pressure for the PSB to relinquish the positions it holds in the Federal Government, Amaral said that the party will not submit to the will of third parties. “There is no reason for us to leave the government. We have been part of the base since 2010. And we are the ones who define our agenda. No party or the press will decide for us,” he stated.

Cid is one of the few voices opposed to the PSB fielding its own candidate and has openly expressed his support for the party to back the reelection of President Dilma Rousseff (PT) and remain in the government's support base. According to the newspaper Estado de São Paulo, the creation of Solidariedade has been closely followed by the PSDB, which is trying to attract members of the new party to the support base of the presidential candidacy of Senator Aécio Neves from Minas Gerais. If Cid were to choose to leave the PSB, it would open the possibility for his brother, former governor Ciro Gomes, who is also currently active in the PSB, to support the PSDB's project. Ciro, like Cid, has publicly defended supporting President Dilma's reelection, but in recent months has changed his mind and has been advocating for the PSB to field its own candidate.

Despite the parties' efforts to recruit new members and form alliances for the 2014 elections, Amaral notes that September will be a decisive month for the upcoming election. Party affiliations will have a strong influence on what happens and on the strategies the parties will adopt. Only after the 4th will we have a more concrete definition of all this,” said the PSB leader.