PSB leaves Alckmin's government to support Haddad in São Paulo.
The state president of the party, Márcio França, is forced to resign from his post as Secretary of Tourism. This is the only alliance the Workers' Party member has secured so far.
247 – The situation for the PT's pre-candidate for mayor of São Paulo may become less critical. The PSB announced the forced departure of the Secretary of Tourism, Márcio França, from the Alckmin government to support Fernando Haddad. Read more in Bernardo Mello Franco's article in Folha:
The PSB is expected to announce next week its support for the PT's pre-candidate for mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, who until now has remained isolated.
The agreement will give him an additional 1 minute and 22 seconds in the 30-minute advertising blocks on TV.
Yesterday, the socialists removed the last obstacle to the alliance by sealing the departure of the state president of the party, Márcio França, from the government of Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB).
He wanted to remain as Secretary of Tourism and support the PSDB candidate José Serra, but was forced to resign.
With this, Governor Eduardo Campos (PE), president of the PSB, opened the way to announce his affiliation with the PT.
"The decision has been made, and the PSB will support Haddad," said the party's vice-president, Roberto Amaral.
"The São Paulo election is a national election, and we will do everything to prevent Serra's victory. He represents backwardness, the right wing, and neoliberalism," Amaral added.
Campos is expected to meet with Lula after the Corpus Christi holiday. Haddad celebrated the news and said he still hopes for support from the PCdoB.
"I am awaiting the governor's visit. It will be an honor to march alongside the PSB," said the pre-candidate.
In a text message sent to his contacts in his phone's address book, França said he was stepping down "due to the electoral process" and that he had served Alckmin with "honor and pride."
The municipal president of the PSB party, councilman Eliseu Gabriel, confirmed that the party is "on its way" to supporting the PT.
To attract the PSB, the PT members sacrificed their own candidacies in cities like Mossoró (RN) and Duque de Caxias (RJ), in addition to annulling the primaries won by the mayor of Recife, João da Costa, an adversary of Campos.