Pelegrino, a member of the Workers' Party, attacks the mayor of Salvador, João Henrique.

By Victor Longo and Elieser Cesar_Bahia 247

Photos: Karol Azevedo_Bahia 247

Business Center Thomé de Souza, near the Hiperposto gas station, Iguatemi region, Salvador, Bahia. At that address, from the top of the 10th floor, federal deputy Nelson Pelegrino guarantees: he will only leave there for another place with the same name. He is referring, of course, to the palace where the Salvador City Hall operates, namesake of the building that houses his office in the Bahian capital. A declared pre-candidate for the 2012 municipal elections, Pelegrino received reporter Elieser Cesar, content editor Victor Longo, and photographer Karol Azevedo in room 1020 of that building on the afternoon of Friday the 28th. There, he said that he will apply the teachings of former president Lula in the 2012 municipal elections and guaranteed that he will count on the mentor's presence in the campaign. Even before the game begins, he assures that he is only 21% away from being elected mayor. In this exclusive interview, Pelegrino also took a jab at his potential adversaries and stated: the PT remains the same! You can't help but read...

The Lula of the moment

Before being elected president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contested three elections and won on the fourth, in 2002. Nelson Pelegrino, the PT's pre-candidate for mayor of Salvador, makes the same calculation, aiming to be the Lula of the moment in 2012. "The time has come for the PT to govern Salvador," he asserts. "We will contest elections in a situation very similar to when Lula was elected; Brazil was in a serious economic crisis and at the end of a political cycle; that's what's happening in Salvador now," he compares. "I had lunch with Lula and he said he'll come here during the campaign."

It was Professor Lula who taught me.

"Nelsinho, governing is about having a strategic plan, having a team, and the ability to make decisions." These words were spoken by former President Lula during his first term, when Nelson Pelegrino was the PT leader in the Chamber of Deputies. The congressman recalls that those words still serve him today and should help him govern Salvador if elected in 2012. "We have to do for Salvador more or less what Lula did for Brazil," he repeats, already setting the tone that his campaign will likely have.

In pole position

Pelegrino points out that, this time, the PT (Workers' Party) is in pole position in the race for the Thomé de Souza Palace (the governor's office). "The conditions are more favorable than in previous candidacies," he considers. "In '96, I ran for mayor against the federal and state governments; in 2000, against all three levels of government; in 2004, against the state government," he recalls, noting that "now it's different," since he is "more experienced and more mature." In addition to 20 years of parliamentary experience, Pelegrino had a brief stint at the Secretariat of Justice and Human Rights during the first term of Jaques Wagner's (PT) government.

Corruption in Dilma's government

Pelegrino asserts that the President of the Republic has been rigorous and intolerant of corrupt individuals in her government, but without forgetting to give "the benefit of the doubt." He argues that the six ministerial resignations in this first year of government are due to this, as well as to the government's transparency. "There is freedom for the press to publish, for the Federal Police to investigate, for the Public Prosecutor's Office to indict, and for the Judiciary to judge," he summarizes. "These removals are important to allow the ministries to continue their work."

Two-round election

Nelson Pelegrino doesn't hold out hope of winning the 2012 municipal election in the first round. When asked what he will do to curb the desires of allies like Alice Portugal (PC do B) and Lídice da Mata (PSB) to contest the election, he replies: "This is a two-round election; if we can't join forces in the first, we will unite in the second." He considers it "natural" that the parties, at this moment, present their candidates. "It's time for dialogue, but the time to narrow down will come," he concludes.

21% missing

Also following the teachings of Professor Lula, Pelegrino says he has already secured about 30% of the votes. "Now, we need the other 21%, and that's what we're aiming for," he says, when questioned about political alliances with former adversaries. "Only in this way will it be possible to make our project viable," he repeats, echoing the former president's discourse. "But the parties supporting Governor Jaques Wagner together hold more than 51% of the city."

Politician fears no adversaries.

Which opponent do you fear most, congressman? "I fear none, but I respect them all." He carries with him a maxim, that a politician cannot be afraid of either allies or adversaries. Therefore, Pelegrino also assures that he does not fear the tentacles of the PSD, the new party in the allied base of Governor Jaques Wagner, which is already emerging as the second-largest party in terms of the number of representatives in the Legislative Assembly. "The PSD has been a great partner and has been playing with us," he affirms.

We are still the same and we live...

Despite the affiliation of unexpected figures, such as councilman Alcindo da Anunciação, and the closeness to politicians who previously belonged to the carlist movement, Pelegrino assures: "The PT remains the same." But he doesn't hide a (ironic?) smile when he hears the name of the new party member. "The pillars of our project remain popular participation, transparency, and partnerships with civil society."

Mario Kertész, a friend?

In a recent interview with Bahia 247, Mário Kertész (PMDB), a radio broadcaster and potential opponent of Pelegrino in 2012, assured that they were friends. "We have a good relationship, a friendship, no doubt about it; I've already told him that the campaign will be at a very high level on my part," Pelegrino endorsed, reiterating that the campaign will not damage their relationship. For how long? "But I will rigorously defend our points of view," he pondered. "In this new phase, I am Nelsinho, peace and love, you can be sure of that!"

ACM Neto, the hesitant Carlist

Pelegrino doesn't hesitate to provoke one of his main political adversaries, fellow federal deputy ACM Neto. "I believe he hesitates to run because he knows his political capital (Carlism) has a ceiling," he quips, adding: "I think that's the great advantage of the forces that make up Governor Wagner's base in this election." For him, Carlism lost strength with the 2006 defeat and is no longer the same. When questioned about the presence of Carlists in Wagner's government, however, he avoids the subject. "It's not the same Carlism as before."

Polarized election

"I think this election will be like this: the candidates of Wagner, Dilma, and Lula against those who oppose this project," he provokes. But... what about the PMDB of Mário Kertész and the Vieira Lima family, congressman? "They will be together with the PSDB and the Democrats, which are parties that clearly oppose this project."

And what about Leão's PP?

Nelson Pelegrino has not yet spoken directly with members of the municipal PP party, including the current mayor João Henrique and the Chief of Staff, João Leão, who is also a pre-candidate. "What we have is a forum that brings together the main parties supporting the Jaques Wagner government, but there haven't been any direct conversations." However, he hopes to be with the PP at least in the second round. "Salvador, Feira de Santana, and Vitória da Conquista are the three cities where there will be a second round," he estimates.

John didn't do this, he didn't do that.

Regarding João Henrique's two terms as mayor of Salvador, Pelegrino has criticisms at the tip of his tongue. "He didn't change Salvador's financial situation, and the city hall is still very dependent on resources from the state government," he criticizes. According to him, the administrations also erred by not altering the socioeconomic structure (high concentration of income), low tax revenue, and the absence of a strategic plan for the city's development. "In these aspects, João Henrique didn't do his homework," he criticizes, without forgetting to admit that there are positive points, such as "a small tax reform."

PDDU failed

According to Pelegrino, João Henrique's Urban Development Master Plan (PDDU) fails to fulfill its role of planning the city's urban, environmental, and social growth. "The next mayor of Salvador will have the task of reorganizing the city's legal framework," he envisions. This would include a new PDDU, new environmental legislation "without loopholes, but which does not impede the municipality's growth," adjustments to the tax system, the land use planning law, and the city's property registry.

A year to get the house in order.

Pelegrino also speaks of a new economic plan that will attract more income to the city and allow for greater borrowing from financing sources such as the National Development Bank (BNDES). "The first year of government should be a year of adjustments," he admits. "Only in this way can we maintain the status quo: the main roads preserved, the garbage collected, the salaries of public employees paid on time, etc."

Matched game

Today, despite the help the state government gives to the city hall, "there is a lack of synergy," says the congressman. An increase in this harmony, with him in the mayor's office, would be "beneficial" for the city, he emphasizes. But he cautions: "We are not going to transform the city hall into a luxury department of the state government; Salvador has its autonomy and will continue to have it." Despite this, he speaks of the existence of "a rigged game" and the need for "differentiated treatment" for Salvador.

The World Cup is mine... the subway belongs to the State.

"Salvador will be ready for the Confederations Cup, both the Fonte Nova stadium and the subway," he promises, should he be elected mayor. As for the subway, this seems to be a problem he intends to get rid of: "I have repeatedly stated that the solution is to make the subway a state operation." The justification is that Salvador wouldn't be able to subsidize rail transport. "The city doesn't have the R$ 50 million per year needed for that, according to calculations."

And what about Cajazeiras in this story?

Cajazeiras, the largest neighborhood in Latin America, has been forgotten and is not among the priorities in the reform of the municipal public transport system. What does Pelegrino say about this? "We don't need to be demagogic: first, we need to complete the metro to Pirajá." From there, Pelegrino points to two alternatives – extending the metro to Cajazeiras or inaugurating Avenida 29 de Março, connecting the giant neighborhood to the metro and the heart of the Bahian capital.

Refounding of Salvador

If elected, Pelegrino promises to promote a "refounding of Salvador." Based on the triad of public administration he learned from former President Lula, he says he has been developing (since 1985) a strategic project for Salvador, assures he has the capacity to assemble a good team and to make decisions. But... whose project is this, congressman? The PT's? "From Governor Jaques Wagner's base," he assures, even aware of the tendency for fragmentation in the allied base in the 2012 elections.