PT lowers centralism and sets up a swap in Caxias.

Marco Damiani _247 – The leaders of the national PT (Workers' Party) are determined to steamroll a series of aspirations from state and municipal PTs in order to secure the support of the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party) of Governor Eduardo Campos of Pernambuco for the party's candidate in São Paulo, Fernando Haddad. What seemed like an easy alliance at the end of last year has become a difficult negotiation, with little frank dialogue and, above all, costly politically. Now, the PSB group warns that it will only agree to support Haddad if several ongoing partnerships are dissolved. And the PT is ready to abandon its so-called centralism, in which the central power has more say, to meet these demands. In this regard, Duque de Caxias, the largest electoral district in the Baixada Fluminense with 22% of Rio de Janeiro's voters, has become the target, where direct interference in the PT's municipal leadership is projecting radical changes in the mayoral race.

The former mayor and congressman Washington Reis, of the PMDB party, who is favored in the polls, could suffer a major blow if the intervention goes ahead. His group is in advanced stages of negotiations for an alliance with the PT party, in which Dalva Lazaroni would run as his vice-mayor candidate. This coalition pleases the PT's base of militants in Caxias, who are already collecting signatures to express their support and thus pressure the municipal leadership. The national plan, on the other hand, is to bring the party into the camp of the state Secretary of Science and Technology and licensed federal congressman, Alexandre Cardoso, the PSB candidate. This would be a direct exchange for the party to support Haddad in São Paulo. This radical change in the PT's position would, in principle, benefit the party's pre-candidate for governor in 2014, Senator Lindbergh Farias, whose plan is to maintain as much distance as possible from the PMDB, which plans to have Vice-Governor Pezão as its candidate. However, if the PT's move to join forces with the PSB succeeds, and pre-candidate Reis manages to attract part of the PT base in Caxias and confirm his status as the favorite in the election, the price to pay will have been very high. For the party of the star. Whatever is decided in Caxias, in this phase of flirtations and betrayals between parties and candidates, will directly impact the schemes for 2014.

It is in an attempt to pull candidate Fernando Haddad out of isolation in São Paulo and forge at least one solid party alliance that the national leadership of the PT (Workers' Party) is betting on, ready to directly interfere in the party's decisions in five cities considered strategic. Duque de Caxias is one of them, where the party's pre-candidate, Dalva Lazaroni, is likely to be left behind. Her candidacy was requested by the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party), in messages sent to the PT's national leadership, to make way for Alexandre Cardoso, affiliated with the PSB. The problem, in this case, is that within the PT in Caxias, many militants advocate an alliance with the PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) pre-candidate, former mayor Washington Reis. This wing of the party has already collected signatures among the party's base in support of the alliance, in which councilwoman Dalva would run as vice-presidential candidate. On the other hand, part of the PT leadership in Caxias dreams of the candidacy of teacher Lauricy Fátima, who currently intends to run for the City Council. In any case, the truth is that the national PT leadership seems determined to override any local negotiations. The risk, of course, is that it will shatter the party in the city and, without unity, render the support provided by the leadership ineffective.

Below is a report from Agência Estado about the inclination of the PT's national leadership to interfere in the political arrangements made by the party's municipal sections:

AE – Upon diagnosing a risk of isolation for Fernando Haddad's candidacy in São Paulo, the national leadership of the PT (Workers' Party) decided to cede space to the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party) in the elections of up to three state capitals and four strategic municipalities in exchange for the party's advance support for the former minister. The PT could abandon its own candidacy and ally with the socialists in cities such as Boa Vista (RR), Cuiabá (MT), Franca (SP), Mossoró (RN), and Duque de Caxias (RJ).

The PT (Workers' Party) considers the PSB's (Brazilian Socialist Party) support for Haddad a certainty, but wants to bring forward the definition of the alliance to April or May – and not June, as the socialist leadership wants. With the aim of "improving the climate" of the negotiation, the PT would give up its own candidates to support the PSB in large cities in the Southeast and capitals of the North or Northeast.

The PT's decision to make room for the socialists was made after a meeting between former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the national president of the PSB, Governor Eduardo Campos (PE). For the PT, an agreement in São Paulo is considered fundamental, as it would add 1 minute and 20 seconds to each of Haddad's campaign TV programs. "There is a segment of the PT afraid of losing support in São Paulo," admits a PT leader.

Both parties deny that Campos imposed conditions for supporting the former minister and declare that the concessions to the socialists are merely a "gesture" of rapprochement. "There is no blackmail. There is a common effort for the two parties to get closer in some cities," says the vice-president of the PSB, Roberto Amaral (read the interview on this page).

The good relationship between the two parties in the federal government transformed the PSB into a frequent partner of the PT in this year's elections, but negotiations have dwindled in recent months.

Until the end of 2011, PT members were considering supporting PSB candidates in up to 11 state capitals and cities with more than 150 voters. However, the plan only materialized in two cases: Belo Horizonte and São Vicente (SP). Conversely, the PSB supports PT candidates in 22 municipalities and is considering joining the party's ticket in another 15.

São Paulo. Negotiations between the PT and PSB parties in major cities in São Paulo are facing difficulties.

The only agreement reached so far occurred in São Vicente, where the PT promised to support the candidacy of the socialist Caio França - son of the state president of the PSB, Márcio França, secretary to Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB).

The socialists are asking the Workers' Party members to withdraw their candidacy in Franca and are awaiting the officialization of the pact in Campinas in favor of Jonas Donizette.

North and Northeast. The Workers' Party leadership conducted a "check-up" of its candidates in the 118 state capitals and cities with more than 150 voters – nicknamed "crown jewels." The party wants to identify locations where its own candidates have not yet gained traction and could be abandoned in favor of the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party).

The PT is more willing to compromise in the North and Northeast regions. In Boa Vista, the party may withdraw Senator Ângela Portela's candidacy to support Maria Helena Veronese (PSB). PT members also consider their support for socialist state representative Larissa Rosado in Mossoró (RN) a certainty.

The socialists' interests, however, are likely to be thwarted in João Pessoa (PB). The PT members were willing to support the re-election of Luciano Agra (PSB), but decided to launch the candidacy of state deputy Luciano Cartaxo after the mayor withdrew from the race.

Support for socialists in the North and Northeast is seen by the PT as a "plan B" in case negotiations fail in Campinas (SP) and other cities in the Southeast – a priority for the PSB in the elections. Conversely, PT members are considering supporting the socialists Alexandre Cardoso in Duque de Caxias (RJ) and Audifax Barcelos in Serra (ES), municipalities with more than 250 voters.

PCdoB. Former President Lula has also taken over negotiations in recent days to attract the PCdoB to Haddad's ticket. He has begun speaking directly with the president of the communist party, Renato Rabelo.

The Workers' Party (PT) will support the communist Renildo Calheiros in Olinda (PE), but no other partnerships have been formed so far. The Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), on the other hand, is the party that has formed the most alliances with PT members: 32 agreements finalized and 17 under negotiation.

The two parties are close to an alliance in Florianópolis, where the PT may support the communist state deputy Ângela Albino. PT members are also considering supporting the party in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), should the candidacy of Itaipu's director-general, Jorge Samek, not materialize. 

There are disagreements in the discussion about the PT's support for the candidacy of the communist Manuela D'Ávila in Porto Alegre. Part of the PT defends an alliance for the reelection of José Fortunati (PDT).