The Dilma-Marconi relationship complicates the political game.
The emphatic speech given by the PSDB governor of Goiás this week in defense of the president, during an event in Goiânia, sparked questions such as: what are Marconi Perillo's interests in transforming the state, which did not elect the PT candidate, into a safe haven for Dilma?; answers range from gratitude for federal government investments in Goiás, interest in new investments, and the most controversial: the governor aims to leave the PSDB and join a party within the government's base in order to run for president in 2018.
Goiás 247 – The energetic speech given this week by the governor of Goiás, Marconi Perillo, a member of the PSDB party, in favor of President Dilma Rousseff has generated various kinds of speculation, which are changing the Brazilian political landscape, including the 2018 presidential race.
Some theories about Marconi's motivation for showering praise on the Workers' Party candidate suggest that he was grateful for the federal government's investments in the state, which secured good projects for his administration and, consequently, his reelection in 2014.
Another theory is that the governor is approaching Dilma to continue forging partnerships and securing loans from the federal government in the coming years, given that the economic outlook is not favorable for his next administration.
Another speculation, however, involves the 2018 presidential race. Marconi, who has always dreamed of being a national candidate, is reportedly considering leaving the PSDB to join a party aligned with Dilma Rousseff in order to run for office.
Within his own party, he would have little room to maneuver competing against figures like São Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin – a strong contender to establish himself as the PSDB's candidate in the race – and Senator Aécio Neves, who ran last year.
According to an analysis published in the newspaper Tribunal do Planalto, from Goiás, a possible destination for the politician from the PSDB party would be the PSD party of Gilberto Kassab, an ally of the PT government.
Regardless of the reason and its destination, the pro-Dilma speech made by the governor of Goiás has irritated the high-ranking members of the PSDB party.