Operation against Abin reaches another Bolsonaro option in RJ – 10/21/2023 – Power

The Federal Police operation launched this Friday (20) and which investigates acts by Abin (Brazilian Intelligence Agency) in the Jair Bolsonaro government (2019-2022) reached another option of the former president for the electoral dispute in Rio de Janeiro , his electoral base, against Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD).

Delegate Alexandre Ramagem, currently a federal deputy for PL-RJ, was the general director of Abin during the period in which there was the alleged irregular use of a secret cell phone geolocation monitoring system, the target of Operation Last Mile. He, however, was not subject to executed warrants.

“We pray that the investigations continue regarding facts, foundations and evidence, not being led by false narratives and speculations,” the former director of Abin under Bolsonaro wrote on social media this Friday.

Ramagem started to gain strength in the PL when another option was also affected by a PF operation: reserve general Walter Braga Netto. Operation Perfidia, launched last month, investigates fraud in purchases by the Federal Intervention Office, commanded by Bolsonaro’s former minister.

The former head of Abin and Braga Netto were 2 of the 3 names included in the PL-RJ polls to prepare the definition of the name to face Paes. The third was senator Carlos Portinho, currently the one who had the least chance of being chosen.

A fourth option for the former president is retired general Eduardo Pazuello, also a federal deputy. His pre-candidacy, however, has not been considered viable in the acronym.

Within the PL, the assessment is that any candidate supported by Bolsonaro is viable to reach the second round in Rio de Janeiro, the city where the former president beat Lula in the presidential election last year.

However, the lack of definition and investigations into the names of PL-RJ have confused the opposition to Paes and encouraged the launch of new pre-candidacies on the right.

In addition to Portinho, deputies Rodrigo Amorim (PTB-RJ) and Otoni de Paula (MDB-RJ) are those who have already made public their intention to run for the position. Others still move behind the scenes.

“I, Otoni and Portinho are having a very cordial dialogue. It is necessary to understand how to oppose Eduardo Paes. Our question is what is the best volume of candidacy for this. What we cannot allow is for the second round to be the left against the left”, said Amorim.

The deputy refers to a possible second round between Paes (whom he describes as left-wing, due to Lula’s support) and deputy Tarcísio Motta (PSOL), chosen as a pre-candidate in an internal dispute within the party.

Amorim has the support of the president of the Legislative Assembly, Rodrigo Bacellar (PL-RJ). The two are evaluating a migration to União Brasil in order to obtain more structure for a possible campaign in the capital.

Another option is deputy dr. Luizinho (PP), former Secretary of Health under the Cláudio Castro administration (PL-RJ). The governor supported the PP name until he left office to assume leadership of the party in the Chamber of Deputies. The ally’s distancing from the capital led Castro to evaluate other options.

One of the suggestions is from former deputy Índio da Costa. Despite being affiliated with União Brasil, he is distant from local politics and has little viability among allies.

Within the PP, deputy Marcelo Queiroz observes the opposition’s movements to assess whether to enter the dispute. Internally, he presents as an argument the fact that he was the party’s deputy with the most votes in the capital. He has the sympathy of former governor Sérgio Cabral.

Castro’s team also does not rule out a possible support for Paes’ re-election. The movement, abrupt in relation to the alliance with Bolsonaro last year, would depend on a well-designed agreement around an alliance for the 2026 election, when the governor intends to run for the Senate.

Paes observes the movement of the opposition and seeks to undermine opponents and dissidents. He hopes to count on President Lula’s support to secure an alliance with the PT. PT members are demanding the position of vice-mayor on the ticket, which Paes has resisted committing to.