Tucanos prepare 'religious' ticket in Goiânia
Federal Deputy Leonardo Vilela (PSDB) withdrew his candidacy, paving the way for a 'religious' ticket, bringing together leaders linked to the Catholic Church and Evangelicals; Fábio Sousa, Francisco Júnior, and João Campos are the leading candidates of the group linked to Governor Marconi Perillo.
Lênia Soares _Diário de Goiás/Goiás 247 – There's a familiar face in this election. A story from 2004 has resurfaced without major changes. Leonardo Vilela (PSDB) dreamed, won internal support, launched his candidacy, and then backed down. Pragmatism (Marconi Perillo) prevailed in the PSDB, leading to the withdrawal of their pre-candidate for the Executive branch of the Capital, who was implicated in the Cachoeira scandal.
With a defined strategy—to present names not mentioned in the case involving the racketeer—the options became even more restricted. João Campos and Fábio Sousa have already stated: "Now it's too late to want to be mayor." But vice-mayor... Expectations are turning to former PMDB member Francisco Júnior (PSD). If he hasn't decided yet, they might decide for him.
The PSDB's decision was presented after a long meeting of the party's leadership that took place this Thursday, the 14th. The metropolitan president of the party, state deputy Fábio Sousa, had already shown signs of discontent with Leonardo, but maintained, until yesterday, that the former secretary was the PSDB's pre-candidate. He is no longer.
On the other side, but not so far away, the PSD is internally maneuvering. The Chief of Staff, Federal Deputy Vilmar Rocha (PSD), state president of the new party, is trying to make the nomination of Federal Deputy Armando Vergílio (PSD) to the Cachoeira Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry viable. Armando would be the other PSD option for the Goiânia election, but he is far from being the preferred choice of his party colleagues. If his appointment to the Commission is confirmed, things will be easy in Goiânia. From Brasília, the deputy will not be able to efficiently orchestrate his candidacy.
Vergílio has his own structure capable of funding the campaign alone, but he lacks the charisma and the support of the Charismatic Renewal movement, unlike Francisco Júnior. The young state deputy seems to be the one holding the bag. Blessed by the church and now by Marconi Perillo, Francisco may soon be presented as the government's candidate. In less than two years, the former PMDB member went from a promising PMDB figure to the state's ruling party's candidate. "A disappointment," said Iris Rezende (PMDB).
The outline of this ticket seems clear. Clear and religious. A Catholic leader at the head and an Evangelical as vice-president. Or, who knows, vice-versa. No faithful will be left out. Fábio Sousa and João Campos, who are resentful of the process that led to the pre-selection of Leonardo Vilela, are not ruling out second place – or first. No one can be as efficient as God as a campaign manager.
Thus begins another electoral process in our secular state.