Ciro Nogueira says Bolsonaro will be a "campaign manager" if he becomes "unfairly ineligible."

BRASILIA (Reuters) - The president of the PP party, Senator Ciro Nogueira (PI), is confident that the right wing will demonstrate strength in next year's municipal elections and will win the presidential election in 2026 even if former president Jair Bolsonaro becomes "unfairly" ineligible, because he would maintain his strength as a campaign figure.

"If this injustice happens, multiply by 10 your capacity to support winning candidates in the 2024 and 2026 elections," said Bolsonaro's former Chief of Staff in an interview with Reuters.

Now a prominent figure in the opposition wing of his strategic party, the same party as the Speaker of the House, Arthur Lira (AL), Ciro Nogueira admits to a scenario that threatens Bolsonaro ever more closely and publicly pushes the right to make its calculations without him in the electoral race.

The former president, who returned to Brazil last week, faces a series of investigations and inquiries, including in the Electoral Court, which will judge his campaign against the reliability of the electronic voting system. Some of the proceedings could make him ineligible to run for office for eight years.

Ciro Nogueira said there are doubts within Lula's government about the advisability of the former president being ineligible to run for office because, in his opinion, this will generate a "feeling of injustice" that will make him stronger than if he were allowed to run for president again.

Despite this, Bolsonaro's former minister does not believe in a popular revolt that would trigger a kind of January 8th event if the Superior Electoral Court condemns him to the loss of political rights and removes him from the race.

"I don't see that coming, not a popular revolt, a convulsion. (There may be) an unprecedented indignation, and that will inevitably be transformed into votes," he stated.

According to the leader, Bolsonaro, "undoubtedly the great leader of the opposition," fosters various opposition leaders, and there are others who have made their mark through their own ability and who can take care of this project, unlike the left-wing parties that gravitate around President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

"Tickets with the support of the ineligible Bolsonaro, Tarcisio, Zema, Tereza, Ratinho, would win this election (of 2026) very easily. A ticket with Tarcisio and Zema as vice-president or vice-president, or Michelle as vice-president, with Bolsonaro's support?", he commented.

"I think these are the names; politics is like a queue, other names may emerge by then, but I think the names put forward are these four that I mentioned," he reinforced, citing the governors of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), and Paraná, Ratinho Júnior (PSD), in addition to Senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS), former Minister of Agriculture.

The president of the PP party said that former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, now in charge of the PL Mulher (Women's Liberal Party), could be "a great vice-presidential candidate" and, if she wanted, could be elected senator in any of the 27 states of the federation; it's up to her to choose. Despite these calls, Bolsonaro has said more than once that women lack the "experience" for executive positions.

MORE RIGOR IN THE FISCAL FRAMEWORK

The president of the PP party said he had an "extremely negative" assessment of Lula's first 100 days in office. He assessed that Lula was unprepared for his return, the government lacks leadership and direction, and ministers like José Dirceu and Antonio Palocci, who used to run the public administration, are missing.

"What has been done in these 100 days? They've changed the names of programs that have existed for 20 years. Any infrastructure projects? None, except for economic instability due to outrageous statements. So, there's a feeling of frustration, of pessimism with this entire government," he said.

In an ironic tone, the leader highlighted that it's not easy to be in opposition because the president of the PT (Workers' Party), Gleisi Hoffmann, and party deputies want to take over his role. PT members have been harshly criticizing, mainly, the interest rate policy practiced by the Central Bank under Roberto Campos Neto, who took office during the Bolsonaro administration, in addition to opposing more austere measures proposed by the economic team.

Nevertheless, Ciro Nogueira said he will offer responsible opposition to the current government. He will suggest that the party promote adjustments to the fiscal framework and tax reform. The rapporteurs for both measures in the Chamber of Deputies will be PP deputies. He wants to discuss the matter with his party colleague, the Speaker of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (AL).

One of the leader's critical points is how the government will manage to raise 150 billion reais in revenue to shift the country from a deficit to a surplus in the coming years. According to him, this would not be possible without tax increases because, so far, the measures considered, such as taxing gambling and other activities, would not reach that amount.

"If it's up to me, the party will not approve these projects and reforms as they are being presented. If they undergo the necessary adjustments, then you can count on our support," he emphasized.

The president of the PP also stated that, if it were up to him, under "no circumstances" would the party have a conversation with Lula and the government about joining the current administration. He added that individually, if a deputy wants to support the government, they should be accountable to their constituents and voters.

"But I guarantee, and I have significant leadership in my party, that as an impossible party we support the PT government," he said.