Tarcísio’s crisis with Bolsonarism projects a clash at Alesp – 07/21/2023 – Politics

After the disagreement between Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) and Jair Bolsonaro (PL) over the Tax Reform, the Palácio dos Bandeirantes and the deputies from the governor’s base are preparing for clashes on the return of the recess of Alesp (Legislative Assembly of São Paulo), when an administrative reform will be put on the agenda.

On the part of Bolsonaristas, who represent about half of the PL bench, the largest in the House, with 19 deputies, there remains dissatisfaction with the governor – despite the peace signs exchanged between him and Bolsonaro.

Allies of the former president heard by the report claim that the governor’s “mask fell off” after the episode – in which Tarcísio defended the approval of the text and posed next to Minister Fernando Haddad (PT), while Bolsonaro campaigned for the PL not to approve the reform that he understands to be PT’s.

According to these interlocutors, the misunderstanding opened up communication problems and Tarcísio’s lack of experience, in addition to a mistaken attitude towards the right that elected him. The opinion is that the governor owes everything to Bolsonaro, but prefers to please other allies, such as Gilberto Kassab (PSD), who managed to place names in the government.

Privately, more passionate Bolsonarists believe that the Assembly will stop Tarcísio’s agenda in response. Others rule out a strong opposition, not least because Tarcísio has good popular approval, but admit that there may be some difficulty on the part of this ideological group.

Bolsonarist deputy Lucas Bove (PL) says that the reform is important and positive, which should garner support from the base. For him, the support of Bolsonaristas depends on agreement with the projects and not on the exchange of interests.

“The governor will have a loyal base in the relevant projects and will be criticized for whatever he does negatively. But that does not mean split or total divergence”, he says.

Administrative reform is one of Tarcísio’s priorities and should be sent to the Assembly in August. Deputies claim that the issue is controversial because it changes the structure of public servants. The government wants to simplify the state’s organization chart, which out of 120 different types of positions will only have 18, according to Tarcísio stated in May.

Even with the public statements by Bolsonaro and Tarcísio that the issue has been overcome, the governor of São Paulo remains in the sights of Bolsonarist influencers on social networks.

On the last 13th, in a gesture to the former president’s public, Tarcísio announced that he will expand the civic-military school program in the state. On the same day, the Lula government (PT) announced that it will extinguish the federal program, which was Bolsonaro’s banner.

At Bandeirantes, the perception is that Tarcísio remains the target of radical militancy and there is a fear that this will contaminate the atmosphere in the Assembly. Therefore, the orientation is to approach the deputies – the government wants to be more present, with programs, funds, partnership and understanding, according to the governor’s assistants.

The secretaries were instructed to strengthen ties with the Assembly and should promote meeting rounds with different benches.

The rebellion at the base of the government affects, in addition to Bolsonarists, centrão parties, which demand the distribution of positions and amendments to allies, something that Tarcísio resists doing. According to the governor’s interlocutors, the pressure has the opposite effect and reinforces the president’s resistance to dividing up the management.

As the Panel column showed, the União Brasil bench, with the exception of the deputy leader of the government, Guto Zacarias, boycotted, at the end of June, the vote on a project that allowed the financing of the intercity train. The party demands an alleged agreement in which they would stay with CDHU (Companhia de Desenvolvimento Habitacional Urbano) in exchange for supporting Tarcísio in the second round of last year.

Considering that Tarcísio already accumulates a series of wear and tear with his base in the House and has had difficulty approving even projects considered simple, which even have the backing of the left-wing opposition, the government wants to strengthen the political articulation in the return of the recess and considers giving in to requests from the deputies.

According to Tarcísio’s assistants, delivering entire organs, as demanded by the União Brasil, is out of the question, but other grassroots demands, considered valid by the government, can be contemplated.

In general, deputies and party leaders plead for extra amendments and the delivery of third-level positions, especially in the regions where they operate. In addition, they complain of little contact with the secretariat and little prestige of the governor. As shown to SheetTarcísio relegates his political activities to the background, which affects the fragile base at Alesp.

In the opinion of experienced deputies in the House, the administrative reform could be a watershed in the relationship between Tarcísio and the Assembly. It will be the moment, they say, to signal, that is, to assist the parliamentarians to build a solid base.

Behind the scenes, members of the government also assess that the vote on the administrative reform will be a test for Kassab, who is Secretary of Government and responsible for political articulation. The expectation of the palace is that it fits Bolsonarists and the center to create a favorable environment for the approval of the project.

Those who follow the tension between Tarcísio and the Assembly, however, claim that Kassab’s negotiating power has been emptied, since the governor does not deliver what the secretary promises to the allies. The locks are placed on the account of the secretary of the Civil House, Arthur Lima, Tarcísio’s trusted man, who will join the PP next month.

Questioned by the report, members of the first echelon of the government differ from the parliamentarians. They claim that the tension between the Legislature and the Executive is natural and that the current legislature is in partnership with the governor, so that the reform will be approved without any obstacles.