Nunes aims for partnership with Tarcísio to overcome wear and tear – 10/13/2023 – Power

Enthusiasts for the re-election of Ricardo Nunes (MDB) are betting on a partnership with governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) to reverse the deterioration of the mayor of São Paulo with the deterioration of the center and transform the region into an electoral showcase next year.

Among emedebista assistants, the governor’s support in the electoral campaign is considered crucial, especially given the impasse in relation to the alliance with former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

In practice, the assessment both around Nunes and Tarcísio is that the governor has already demonstrated his preference for the mayor and has been acting in his favor.

Datafolha research in August showed that Nunes is in second place, with 24% of voting intentions, behind Guilherme Boulos (PSOL), with 32%. Tabata Amaral (PSB) scores 11%, and Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil) adds 8%.

More than getting on the podium and publicly declaring their vote, allies of Nunes say that Tarcísio’s most valuable help at this moment is precisely to make joint projects viable, such as the revitalization of Avenida São João and Largo do Paissandu.

As shown by Sheet, the plan nicknamed “Broadway in São Paulo” or “Times Square in São Paulo” (due to the possibility of installing electronic panels), involves the exchange and sale of public buildings to transform the degraded region into a cultural and hotel hub. The idea is to create a movement of tourists and improve security.

State and municipal secretaries responsible for the project say they hope that the restoration of buildings in the tourist corridor will be underway next year, that is, in time to become an asset in the election.

The priority given to the revitalization of the area around Avenida São João comes after the breakdown of the Nunes/Tarcísio partnership in relation to Cracolândia and in a context in which violence has become the main concern of residents of the capital.

In January, upon taking office, the governor jointly announced with the mayor a series of measures to contain the problem. Nine months later, 68% of São Paulo residents consider that the actions taken by the city hall and the government in Cracolândia were insufficient, as shown by Datafolha.

In July, Tarcísio even suggested moving from Cracolândia to Bom Retiro, but Nunes said he had not been consulted, which highlighted a breakdown among the allies.

Nunes’ assistants say that the time now, one year before the election, is to create a positive perception of management with a series of deliveries — and that the partnership with Palácio dos Bandeirantes helps with this.

In this sense, the “São Paulo Broadway” project has accelerated in recent weeks. Members of Nunes’ administration consider, however, that the center’s recovery actions had already been planned since the beginning of the mandate and are not related to the electoral calendar.

They admit, however, a visibility strategy. According to the mayor’s assistants, specific interventions in the central region have less transformative power and are little noticed. Therefore, the idea is to organize and coordinate several actions in the same area in the same period, expanding the positive impact.

To make the cultural corridor viable, the government and city hall reached an agreement that involves the exchange of public buildings.

The city hall will hand over to the state the old Cine Morocco and a warehouse next to it — which, along with the old Hotel Esplanada, should be sold or granted for the installation of hotels and a convention space.

In exchange, two state properties in the center, the headquarters of EMTU and the São Paulo State Pension Institute, would be transferred to the city hall, which is considering bringing the Department of Education to the central region.

In the long term, the Tarcísio government intends to move the headquarters of the state Executive to Princesa Isabel Park, also in the center.

In addition to cooperation at the center, Tarcísio and Nunes have given public signs of rapprochement. During the transport strike in the capital, on the 3rd, the governor and mayor acted in tandem by classifying the movement as illegal and political.

Tarcísio stated that the strike was hijacked by political and ideological interests. In the same vein, Nunes associated the strike with the opponent PSOL, seeking to stamp the stamp of radical and troublemaker on Boulos.

Despite not having declared explicit support for the mayor, Tarcísio has been offering a series of praises to his ally. On the 30th, when they launched a vaccination campaign together, the governor stated that it was “very easy” to work with Nunes.

“It is essential that the government and city hall are aligned. And it is very easy to work with Ricardo. It was a gift that I received, a real gift. And it has been a pleasure working with you, Ricardo, thank you very much for everything you have done for us” , declared the governor.

Tarcísio repeated his speech from the previous month, when he praised Nunes during an event at Palácio dos Bandeirantes.

“How easy it has been, how enjoyable it has been, working with Ricardo Nunes. There is a lot for us to do here in our city of São Paulo and the tasks of the state government become easier when we have this solid partnership”, he stated.

The mayor’s allies also point out that Tarcísio is a bridge between Nunes and Bolsonarista voters. With a broad alliance of parties from the center to the right, Nunes wants to concentrate all the opposition to Boulos in her candidacy, but the obstacle is the back-and-forth with Bolsonaro and the eventual return of Ricardo Salles (PL) to the municipal race.

Datafolha also showed that Tarcísio’s endorsement is more desirable for Nunes than that of the former president himself. In total, 68% of São Paulo residents say they would not vote under any circumstances for a name supported by Bolsonaro. In relation to the governor, the percentage of those who would not vote for the candidate nominated by him drops to 46%.