PL deputy is favorite to lead SP Assembly – 01/28/2023 – Power

Member of the largest elected group of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo, state deputy André do Prado (PL) is the favorite to assume the presidency of the House in the next legislature, with the support of governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) and the president of the PL , Valdemar Costa Neto.

His election would materialize a tradition of alignment between the Legislative and the Executive, previously dominated by the PSDB, in São Paulo.

The Republicans and the PSDB are also aiming for the post, but the block of deputies around André do Prado is largely in the majority. In opposition, PSOL must launch a candidacy to make a stand, as usual.

The election only takes place on March 15, but deputies believe it is difficult for another name to become viable to the point of threatening André do Prado, who may have the support of more than 60 of the 94 parliamentarians.

The Toucan governors who preceded Tarcísio at the Palácio dos Bandeirantes had allies in the presidency of the Assembly, which is crucial for the approval of important projects for the government.

Since 2007, the House has been commanded by PSDB deputies, the party that dominated the state administration for almost 30 years. For this reason, Tarcísio’s support base, formed mainly by PL, Republicans and PP, articulated a unit around André.

The deputy’s first challenge was to unify the bench itself, made up of a group of Bolsonaristas, who joined the PL after Jair Bolsonaro migrated to the acronym, and another group of “PLroot” or “centrão” deputies.

The Bolsonarist group, in the wake of Tarcísio’s victory sponsored by Bolsonaro, claimed command of the House, but had to back down when Valdemar entered the field and chose André. Tarcísio himself, privately, decided to support André. Publicly, the governor has already said he will not interfere.

André’s choice was yet another setback for Bolsonaristas in relation to Tarcísio, who has been criticized by the radical base for not giving more space to the ideological in his government.

Bolsonarist deputies complain that they were not consulted by Tarcísio before he joined André. But, to avoid a fight that could implode the bench, they decided to give in.

The assessment of the deputies close to the former president was that a split could harm Tarcísio and make competitors available for the election of the Board of Directors. In addition, they claim that André is seen as an experienced deputy with good dialogue with everyone.

In December, the entire PL bench signed a note of support for him.

“We defend that the PL bench has the presidency because of its size. Tarcísio will need the PL, and the PL has shown loyalty. André was a party nomination for Valdemar and is a name that the bench embraces”, says Gil Diniz (PL), deputy close to the Bolsonaro family.

André leaves in front for representing the largest bench, in the PL, with 19 deputies. He should also attract the PT, which has 18 deputies, and wants to be part of the Board of Directors – composed of the president, the 1st secretary and the 2nd secretary.

The positions of 3rd and 4th secretaries are also included in the negotiation. The presidency and each secretariat bring together dozens of positions and, therefore, are valuable to the parties.

In the last legislatures, the PT and the PSDB, which used to have the largest benches, established an agreement of mutual support despite the political rivalry – the PSDB got the presidency and the PT, the 1st secretary. The same must happen now with PL and PT.

Thus, each position on the Bureau is usually filled in the order of the largest benches. PT and PL members heard by the Sheetincluding Bolsonarists, claim that both parties are willing to follow the criterion of proportionality.

But, if the vote of PT for Toucans and vice versa was already strange, although usual, the partnership between Bolsonaristas and PT causes even more discomfort among the most combative deputies. Even so, parliamentarians consider that this construction is possible.

“For us Bolsonarists, voting for the PT is an extremely complicated situation. We have a commitment to our voters”, says Major Mecca (PL).

Gil, in turn, recalls that the PSL had the largest group in 2019, but the criterion of proportionality, defended by the party, was not followed – the PSDB was elected with the support of the PT. “For consistency, I have always defended proportionality. But deputies who do not feel comfortable [para votar no PT] must be heard.”

“The PT’s expectation is that the criterion of proportionality is maintained. We must have a plural Board”, says state deputy Paulo Fiorilo (PT). André signaled to PT supporters that he must maintain the tradition of the agreement.

Then, for the other secretariats, PSDB/Cidadania would be quoted, with 11 deputies, and União Brasil and Republicanos, with 8 each.

The PSDB, of current President Carlão Pignatari, wanted to keep command of the House, but is politically weakened. The Republicans, on the other hand, still want the post, but recognize that André is the favorite.

To contemplate its acronym, Tarcísio chose deputy Jorge Wilson (Republicans) as leader of the government.

Deputies from several parties say they believe that, by March, the main acronyms will come to an agreement to form a ticket, so that there will be no real competition.

Deputy Carlos Giannazi (PSOL) says he should run for president. “We are not going to adhere to a single slate. Alesp has to have independence and autonomy, it cannot be a pull from the Palácio dos Bandeirantes as it has been over the last 30 years.”

On March 15, 2021, Pignatari was elected with 65 votes (and the support of the PT), against 16 from Major Mecca (PL), representative of Bolsonarism, 5 from Sergio Victor (Novo) and 5 from Giannazi.

In 2018, the Bolsonarist PSL had 15 seats, the PT, 10, and the PSDB, 8. But, in March of the following year, toucans and petistas united to isolate Bolsonaro’s party, breaking the tradition of proportionality. Cauê Macris (PSDB), ally of João Doria (former PSDB), was elected with 70 votes.

Janaina Paschoal (then in the PSL, today in the PRTB) had 16 votes; Daniel José (Novo), 4, and Mônica Seixas (PSOL), also 4.