In an interview with 247, Patrus says he accepts being Lacerda's running mate, but…

Minas 247 - If the Workers' Party (PT) agrees, and if Mayor Marcio Lacerda also accepts, a significant change in the race for the municipal succession in Belo Horizonte could occur in the coming days: the entry into the scene of the city's former mayor (1993-1996) and former Minister of Social Development (Lula government), Patrus Ananias. In an interview with 247, Patrus admits he would accept the position of vice-mayor candidate on Lacerda's reelection ticket. But he imposed a series of conditions.

Personally, the Workers' Party member assures that he would not be inclined to accept. "If I consult my family, my closest friends, they will all tell me not to accept a new challenge in a political position," he says. "And if I were to consult myself, I wouldn't want it either, because I'm doing well professionally (Patrus works as a civil servant in the Legislative Assembly and is a university professor), in my family life, and in my daily activism within the Workers' Party, but without a political office."

But he agrees to enter the race, alongside Lacerda, if he perceives that he would be a name that helps the party overcome the current moment. “It’s the worst in the PT’s history in the capital,” says Patrus. “The PT has always had democratic internal disputes, but they have become very exhausting in recent years, and the party has distanced itself too much from social and cultural movements.” In this sense, Lula’s former minister would not accept running for the vice-presidential candidate position: “It wouldn’t be consistent; I have more than 30 years of activism in the party, I wouldn’t want my name put forward in an internal dispute.” For this reason, he also guarantees that he will not engage in political maneuvering. “I have, of course, my contacts in the PT, but I am not running for any position and I will not campaign for it.”

That's because he knows that even his name, despite popular approval (Patrus left the PBH [Belo Horizonte City Hall] with good approval ratings and obtained more than 520 votes for federal deputy in 2002), would face resistance. Within the PT [Workers' Party], this resistance could be overcome, even though the former minister responsible for Bolsa Família [a social welfare program] doesn't have an internal majority. But his name, due to the positions he has already held, could overcome the biggest obstacles: the group linked to the current vice-mayor Roberto Carvalho and the one linked to the current Minister of Development, Industry and Commerce, Fernando Pimentel. The latter, however, would have difficulty carrying out the proposed alliance with the PSDB [Brazilian Social Democracy Party] in the capital, which he helped to propose in 2008.

The additional problem would be with the head of the ticket. With Patrus Ananias as his running mate, Marcio Lacerda would hardly have the support of the PSDB. The PT member could assume the mayoralty in 2014, since Lacerda is being considered for the state government or even to run for vice-governor. Patrus would then have two years leading the administration – automatically positioning himself as the clear favorite for re-election. The PSDB would not like this scenario at all.

Furthermore, it's unknown how far the current mayor of Belo Horizonte would go if accompanied by Patrus. The Workers' Party member did not support his candidacy in 2008, as he refused to campaign alongside the PSDB. During much of Lacerda's administration, he maintained a more critical than complimentary tone. Since the beginning of last year, however, the dialogue between the two has improved, both quantitatively and qualitatively. "Today, I have a good conversation with Lacerda," confirms Patrus. The current mayor and candidate for re-election, however, knows that Lula's former minister could be a shadow over his administration. He already had significant headaches with Roberto Carvalho, with whom he clashed two years ago. With a name of Patrus's weight, a new disagreement would be even worse.