Wagner admits to orchestrating ACM Neto's support for Dilma.

Bahia 247

Political leaders in Bahia, from both the left, right, and center, do not believe that the good relationship between Mayor ACM Neto (DEM) and Governor Jaques Wagner and President Dilma Rousseff (both from PT) extends beyond the administrative sphere.

But Wagner himself has been causing headaches for those who dislike the idea of ​​seeing the young Democrat on the same platform as the Workers' Party members in 2014.

The governor is now setting aside his sensitivities and openly stating that he intends to have ACM Neto's support for President Dilma's reelection. And, boldly, he also wants the mayor to raise the banner of the PT candidate for his succession next year.

Below is Wagner's response to the Bahia Notícias website regarding his intention to win over the Democrat once and for all.

ACM Neto declared, in a recent interview with Bahia Notícias, that he may support Dilma Rousseff and the PT in 2014. Surprised, Governor?

Look... No. Because so far, in the relationship we've built, both with the support of the federal and state governments, for the Salvador city hall, I haven't encountered any administrative obstacles. And, since I believe politics is dynamic – it's been said that politics is like the clouds: every day you look, it has a different configuration – and since I'm someone who has made my mark in politics, especially here in Bahia, but also nationally, through this ability to bring people together and engage in dialogue, I don't think anything is impossible. It's clear that I'm pleased to see an open stance from the mayor of the capital. He truly has an extremely important mission delegated to him by the people of Salvador, which is to restore Salvador's self-esteem, to re-establish Salvador as a protagonist, as the third largest capital, as a capital of culture, of miscegenation, the mother capital of Brazil, the first in Brazil, and the one that, to this day, has had the longest period as the country's capital. He knows, I told him from the very beginning, and it's already a trademark of mine: 'I'm not going to ask which party the mayor belongs to, I want to know about the city's needs.' So, if there's a convergence of these interests... We've been working together, we've been present at all the inaugurations. He demanded from me and from President Dilma – perhaps he was one of the first mayors she received – very clearly that, as the leader of the opposition, he had the platform to guarantee his mandate, his political performance. Now, as mayor, he has a mission and wanted to count on [Wagner and Dilma], although he was never required to declare any alignment. Of course, people move in politics based on relationships, as he himself said, on dialogue. So, if the dialogue is open and good, it's evident that such a position can be built. I still think it's too early, although everyone in the political world, and you who cover politics, after an election, less than three months pass and we're already talking about the next one (laughs). I believe we have a foundation that speaks of unity for 2014, and of course I will continue working to help President Dilma. From the mayor's point of view, he is a young mayor, just beginning his career in the executive branch. I think he will look at what is truly good for Salvador, good for Bahia, and good for his political career. I don't close doors, especially since today I interact with many people in my political group who were from the PFL and DEM political groups, and, thank God, this relationship is very peaceful. I'm not surprised because I think people have to be open-minded and not lock doors. In politics, you never lock the door. You leave open the possibility, without losing your bearings, your direction, but you leave open the possibility of expansion.