Tarcísio is under pressure after the crisis over a Ukrainian company – 04/28/2023 – Politics

Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) found himself under pressure from Bolsonarists and allies of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) due to a crisis caused by the disclosure of information about an alleged negotiation between the Government of São Paulo and the Ukrainian company Antonov.

The case broke out after a report by CNN Brasil stated that Antonov stopped investing US$ 50 billion in Brazil due to the president’s speeches about the war between Russia and Ukraine, which was pointed out as fake news by PT members.

CNN Brasil then published a note from the Secretariat for International Business, led by Lucas Ferraz, in which the folder claims to have received representatives from Antonov to address the issue.

The Ukrainian state-owned company, however, stated in a note that it does not have representatives in Brazil, which led Lula’s ministers to accuse the São Paulo government of spreading false information to harm the federal government.

This Friday (28), while Lula’s allies even demanded an investigation of the case by the Public Ministry, Bolsonarist networks sought to refute the criticism, based on a new report with a director of Antonov citing a preliminary negotiation with the government.

Tarcísio’s assistants were divided in relation to the episode, with part evaluating that Ferraz caused unnecessary wear and tear on the entire government, and another part considering that the situation was clarified after the Ukrainian company backtracked.

Tarcísio, in turn, signaled that Ferraz could be replaced, calling President Lula to explain himself and meeting with Marcos Troyjo, former president of Banco dos Brics, who is quoted for the post, as reported by the column Panel, from the Sheet.

For members of the government, the situation became problematic because it allowed Lula’s ministers to attack Tarcísio. Political exploitation, they say, was decisive for the uneasiness with the secretary to spread in the Palácio dos Bandeirantes.

What weighed above all was what was seen as a mockery of Márcio França (PSB), Minister of Ports and Airports, who is Tarcísio’s opponent in the privatization of the Port of Santos.

“It is regrettable to see the Government of SP produce, ‘officially’, fake news against the federal government. I was governor of SP, the president was not from my party either, but we had republican, respectful attitudes. Paulo,” wrote França on Twitter.

It wasn’t just him who went on the attack in the first echelon of Lula’s government. The chief minister of the Secretariat for Social Communication, Paulo Pimenta (PT), stated that he was waiting, “as a matter of decency”, for Governor Tarcísio and the press vehicles that reported “that reproduced absurd fake news against the federal government to manifest and recognize the seriousness of what they have done”.

Even in the opposition, Tarcísio has sought to maintain a good relationship with the federal government, mainly because he depends on the Planalto to make undertakings viable, including the privatization of the port. Therefore, the stress caused by Lula deepened the crisis, and Tarcísio sought to undo the embarrassment.

The leader of the PT in the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo, Paulo Fiorilo, even called the Public Ministry against the secretary, stating that he produced false news.

“The mode of production and dissemination of news without proper official proof is perplexing. The publication of fake news can characterize the crime of defamation and therefore it is essential that the Public Ministry investigates what actually happened and whether there was political motivation”, Fiorilo said in a note.

Bolsonarist networks supporting Tarcísio began to spread the video with the latest report from CNN Brasil, citing a preliminary meeting, to refute the accusations of fake news. Among the profiles that released this version is “Tarcioso do Asfalto”, which, according to the newspaper O Globo, is controlled by the brother of former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, Diego Torres, who is Tarcísio’s advisor.

Were it not for the political reactions, Ferraz could have been warned to check his interlocutors better and not repeat the mistake, but Tarcísio’s advisers claim that he ended up creating greater friction, which put his position at risk.

There is also an assessment that the main mistake in the midst of a poorly explained story was the International Business Secretariat releasing a note confirming the meeting with Antonov without consulting the company or Bandeirantes’ central communication.

In general, Ferraz is praised by his peers and by deputies allied with Tarcísio — and part of the team sought to minimize the case to keep him in office.

The report sought secretary Lucas Ferraz through the press office, but did not receive a response on the matter. A Sheet also approached the government, which so far has not manifested itself.

Among Tarcísio’s assistants more closely linked to the right, there is an understanding that the entire imbroglio was distorted by PT supporters to create the version that the São Paulo government promotes fake news just as the federal government is trying to approve a PL on the subject, while the opposition is against.

For this wing that defends Ferraz, it is important to emphasize that the PT ministers, such as França and Pimenta, were wrong and there was no fake news. If Tarcísio dismisses the secretary, the gesture could be seen by Bolsonarists as yet another concession by the governor towards President Lula.

Tarcísio has been balancing between Bolsonarist-based gestures and nods to the center. In addition to the republican relationship with Lula, the governor also sanctioned a law that provides for medical marijuana in the public health network and adopted a green agenda speech.

On the other hand, Tarcísio contemplated the conservative base linked to the former president when he dropped the requirement for proof of vaccination against Covid-19 in the state.