Lula and Tarcísio partnership becomes a counterpoint to Bolsonaro – 02/20/2023 – Politics

The joining of forces between the Lula government (PT) and the Tarcísio de Freitas government (Republicans) in recovery actions on the north coast of São Paulo after the heavy rains at the weekend was praised by both, in yet another sign of rapprochement between political opponents, and became a counterpoint to former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

Joint action was especially highlighted by Lula in his speech this Monday (20th), in São Sebastião (SP), and has been explored by leftist politicians as a symbol that the PT government represents the return of institutional normality and of republican attitudes –which was lacking in the previous administration. Bolsonaro’s allies, on the other hand, view the movement with distrust.

The president interrupted the Carnival break in Bahia and went to São Sebastião, where he participated in a meeting and speech alongside Tarcísio, Mayor Felipe Augusto (PSDB) and ministers and other authorities. The governor, in turn, had already traveled to the coast on Sunday (19). So far, there are 40 dead and 2,400 people away from home.

Immediately, Lula’s allies began to recall a similar situation, in December 2021, when then-President Bolsonaro said that he hoped not to have to return before the trip to Santa Catarina and maintained his routine of jet ski rides even while Bahia, then governed by PT Rui Costa, faced a crisis generated by heavy rains.

“This partnership that we are establishing is a good picture for our country,” said Lula, pulling Tarcísio and Augusto to his side.

Asked by Sheetvice-president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) said that the union shows “complete solidarity with the victim families”.

“And it shows a new time in Brazil, of union and construction. It is an important gesture from the federal government to São Paulo, which strengthens democracy and the federation. It is an example that politics should not be made of sectarianism, but of love next,” he added.

This Monday, Lula began his speech by saying he wanted to show “a scene that you haven’t seen in Brazil for a long time.” “A governor, a president and a mayor sitting at a table or in front of a microphone because of a common thing that touches us all.”

He followed the tone he adopted in his campaign, exalting democracy and the broad front, in opposition to Bolsonaro.

“It is a specific demonstration that it is possible to exercise our role in democracy even when we belong to different parties and think differently ideologically. The common good of the people is much more important than any disagreement that we may have.”

“I don’t know which party the mayor is from, I know in which party Tarcísio ran in the elections, you know in which party I ran in the elections and look how beautiful and simple it is: we are together. The election is over”, he added.

While Lula spoke, Tarcísio nodded in agreement and even smiled. Bolsonaro’s ally governor also praised the union with the petista – without failing to nod to the military in his speech.

Tarcísio thanked Lula for his presence and said that “this gives us support, it gives us comfort at a time when we need to work in a cooperation regime”.

The symbolic episode adds to other chapters of rapprochement between Tarcísio and Lula and of the governor’s detachment from Bolsonaro. Tarcísio has been to three meetings with the president in Brasilia, including in solidarity after January 8th, and has gone so far as to say that he and Lula are “partners”.

At the same time, Tarcísio embraced in his first month themes demonized by Bolsonarism, such as the defense of a green agenda in the state, and sought to distance himself from the former boss, saying, for example, that he was never a root Bolsonarist.

Therefore, Bolsonarist deputies bothered backstage for this Monday’s union photograph. They see a planned movement with the intention of opposing Lula and Bolsonaro and differentiating Tarcísio from the former president, painting the PT and the governor as statesmen and balanced.

Bolsonaro allies also question the effectiveness of the federal government.

“Lula is good at speaking, but in practice it is Tarcísio who is committed to solving the problems. I was in the region yesterday and spoke with the governor, Lula was jumping Carnival”, said state deputy Gil Diniz (PL) to Sheet.

“But [Lula] you are welcome if you want to help sort out the chaos. However, so far, he has said more and done less,” he added.

The president of the Republicans, Marcos Pereira, told the report that Lula and Tarcísio did “what has to be done, with the people in the first place”.

Even on the right, therefore, there were lines of approval. “There is no party color right now, as this is one of our roles as a public figure, to help others,” he told the Sheet the leader of the PL in the São Paulo Assembly, Ricardo Madalena.

Among Lula’s allies, the president’s speech gave the password for the comparison with Bolsonaro to be made explicit. “It is an obvious contrast with the previous period”, said Minister Márcio França (PSB) to the report.

“Lula reinforces the importance of democracy and says that political issues cannot be above the interests of the population”, tweeted senator Humberto Costa (PT-PE).

“I take this opportunity to salute President Lula’s sensitivity and republican attitude, who traveled to the city of São Sebastião along with several ministers. That is civility! A president who has compassion for the pain of others and is committed to his people”, wrote the governor of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra (PT).

On the networks, the union of the entities of the federation was specifically praised by several PT supporters in the state, such as Emidio de Souza, Edinho Silva, Alexandre Padilha, in addition to José Guimarães (CE) and the first lady Janja.

“Federal government and Governor Tarcísio working in perfect harmony and harmony for the benefit of the population. New times in Brazil”, published former Bolsonarist Junior Bozzella (União Brasil-SP).

“Cooperation between federal entities. Prioritize the population by offering solidarity and solutions. Everything that Bolsonaro did not do in the pandemic”, completed the federal deputy.

On Twitter, Alexandre Frota (Pros) and Antonio Neto (PDT) also praised the partnership between Lula, Tarcísio and Augusto.