Allies see electoral risk in Bolsonaro’s friction with PL – 01/16/2024 – Power

Allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and leader Valdemar Costa Neto believe that there is a risk of electoral damage to the party in the public disagreement between the two. The concern is justified by this year’s municipal election and, therefore, the assessment of the two wings is that it is necessary to lower the temperature and avoid new friction.

Since Bolsonaro was captured on video talking about a possible “implosion of the party” with an “absurd statement”, supporters have turned on the alert and rushed to put an end to the crisis.

According to people close to them, Bolsonaro and Valdemar have different understandings about the PL’s slates and positions in the municipal elections in some capitals. Given this, a possible public fight could transcend the PL offices, fuel Bolsonarist militancy and harm alliances that are being forged across the country.

Furthermore, the persistence of internal divergences tends to be exploited by adversaries. Federal deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ), for example, shared on his networks the interview in which Valdemar praised Lula — the video was the trigger for Bolsonaro’s irritation.

Valdemar’s allies believe that the biggest beneficiaries of Bolsonaro’s criticism of the leader are political opponents, such as Guilherme Boulos’ (PSOL) pre-campaign in São Paulo. The PL plans to nominate the vice-president on the current mayor’s ticket, Ricardo Nunes (MDB).

The party’s opinion is that undermining the relationship between Bolsonaro and Valdemar could lead the former president to not enter the campaign for Nunes’ reelection. There is also fear that Bolsonaro will encourage federal deputy Ricardo Salles (PL-SP) to run as a candidate for another party, which would divide the right-wing votes in the city.

The PL is historically a political force linked to the center. Bolsonaro’s entry transformed the party into the largest in the Chamber of Deputies and several Bolsonaro supporters joined the party. One of the consequences was the increase in internal divergences, which usually oppose the radicalized Bolsonarist wing to the parliamentarians who were part of the PL ranks before the migration — and who are considered more pragmatic.

Bolsonarists, for example, defend that as many of their own candidates as possible be launched. Valdemar, however, welcomes alliances with centrist parties and also advocates for PL names with greater electoral chances.

One of the divergences occurs in Goiânia (GO). Bolsonaro wants the candidate for mayor to be former federal deputy Major Vitor Hugo, while Valdemar defends federal deputy Gustavo Gayer. In this case, the director’s will must prevail.

Bolsonaro has already said that Valdemar has the final say in choosing the candidates. At the end of November, he stated: “Sometimes, I swallow one of Valdemar’s candidates and he swallows one of my candidates.”

Behind the scenes, allies say that Bolsonaro’s phrase sums up their relationship. Despite disagreements, they seek to divide the cities that are relevant to each one.

São Paulo, for example, is Valdemar’s stronghold. Therefore, allies say that the trend of support for Nunes is consolidated — even though the party leader throws the vice nomination to Bolsonaro. In Rio de Janeiro, the former president must define the ticket.

This Tuesday (16), Bolsonaro compared, to the Metrópoles portal, his relationship with Valdemar with a marriage.

“The marriage with Valdemar is firm. In him, I am the husband. And everyone knows that the woman is in charge of the relationship [risos]. Valdemar is the party commander,” he said.

“Valdemar has a big heart. That’s why he praises a lot of people. He has no malice. At no point in the video that circulated [sobre a fala de ‘implosão do partido’] I mentioned Valdemar’s name. As a party leader, he has fulfilled what was agreed with me,” he said.

In a video that Sheet published on Monday (15), Bolsonaro tells supporters that he had a serious problem due to an “absurd statement” that Lula is popular. Although he did not mention Valdemar directly, he was referring to the leader’s praise for the PT member.

“If it continues like this, the party will implode. Person from the party making absurd statements, such as ‘Lula is extremely popular’. Tell him to take a [cachaça] 51 there on the corner there. [Lula] It’s not coming,” Bolsonaro said at the time.

Valdemar and Bolsonaro spoke via WhatsApp after the repercussion of the video praising Lula. According to reports, the former president was very angry and told Valdemar that the mention of the PT member was unfortunate. The leader, in turn, said that the video had been edited.