Understand in 6 points raids between Tarcísio and Bolsonarism – 7/6/2023 – Politics

The recent public crisis between Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), triggered by the articulation of the tax reform after the ex-president’s declaration of ineligibility, exposes a relationship of criticism and nods between the two politicians.

Despite this being the main disagreement, other situations have already generated friction between the chief executive of São Paulo and the Bolsonarist base, such as the relationship with President Lula (PT), the space given in the government and pragmatism in the face of public policies seen as progressives.

At other times, Tarcísio also acted to stroke Bolsonaro’s allies, such as his public presence at events with the former president, the tribute to an exponent of the military dictatorship (1964-1985) and the veto of the requirement of vaccination against Covid-19 in the state for entry into establishments.

Remember in six points the raids and nods between Tarcísio and Bolsonarism:

raids

government space

Still in the transition, Bolsonaro’s allies complained about the lack of secretariats and top-level positions, with more space for right-wing or center-right parties, such as the PSD, and the appointment of names with a technical profile or even holders of portfolios in governments previous.

Among the declared Bolsonarists in the governor’s secretariat are only Sonaira Fernandes (Republicans), from the Secretariat for Policies for Women, and Guilherme Derrite, from Public Security.

At the beginning of his term, Tarcísio even tried to accommodate some of the ex-president’s supporters in second-level positions, such as executive secretaries and special advisors to the government.

Relationship with Lula

Another point of irritation between the governor and Bolsonaristas is in the relationship with Lula. Tarcísio, despite having a political and ideological position contrary to that of the PT, maintains a friendly attitude with the president — he has already claimed to be a partner of the current president.

Last December, Tarcísio said he had never been a “rooted Bolsonarist”. He said he did not want to enter into any “ideological war” with other institutional entities and called for the pacification of the country, which he classified as tense and divided.

With that, he maintained a positive and pragmatic relationship with the Planalto, seen in the meeting with all the governors after the coup attacks on January 8 and in the presence of Lula in the meetings and actions for the recovery of the north coast, in February.

Public policy

At Palácio dos Bandeirantes, Tarcísio’s attitude was to invest in public policies seen as progressive, which generated wide repercussions between the right and the left — he was seen as one of the heirs of Bolsonarism ideologically.

The main measure demonized by Bolsonaro supporters and sanctioned by the governor was the distribution of medicinal cannabis by the public health network in São Paulo.

He said he had a nephew with Dravet syndrome —which causes severe seizures—, who gained quality of life when he started being treated with cannabidiol, and he celebrated the implementation of the measure in the state.

Other themes opposed to Bolsonarism and embraced by Tarcísio involve the green agenda and the preservation of indigenous lands, the maintenance of body cameras on police officers (an issue he attacked in the campaign) and even the financing of an LGBTQIA+ center in the capital of São Paulo.

nods

Speeches and trips to events

Despite maintaining a relationship with Lula, the head of the São Paulo Executive remains close to Bolsonaro, receiving him as a guest at Bandeirantes and participating in events with the former president. One of them was the graduation of officers from the Barro Branco Military Police Academy, in June, when the two were present.

The day before the event, both attended a match between São Paulo and Sport, at Morumbi. Part of the São Paulo fans protested against the presence of the former president with banners, boos and even thrown glasses.

On the day Bolsonaro was declared ineligible by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), last week, Tarcísio did not fail to register his loyalty and paid homage to the former president on the networks, saying that his leadership is “unquestionable and endures”.

No vaccine passport

In February, Tarcísio sanctioned a bill, authored by Bolsonarist deputies, which prohibits the requirement to present proof of vaccination against Covid-19 to access public and private places in the state.

Militancy against proof of the vaccine is part of Bolsonaro’s agenda in the pandemic. The former president spoke against immunizers and opposed social isolation.

As Bolsonaro’s Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio endorsed the then president’s denialist stance. The now governor was next to Bolsonaro in the live in which the former president laughs when commenting on an alleged increase in suicides in the pandemic.

Homage to the exponent of the dictatorship

At the end of June, the Government of São Paulo enacted a law in honor of Colonel Erasmo Dias, an exponent of the dictatorship —of which Bolsonaro is nostalgic—, renaming a road junction in Paraguaçu Paulista, the military’s hometown. The decree was seen as a nod to the former president.

The colonel, who died in 2010 at the age of 85, was a federal and state deputy and secretary of Public Security in São Paulo. Dias became known for leading the invasion at PUC in São Paulo in September 1977, in the last major operation of the authoritarian regime against the student movement, which was trying to reorganize the UNE (National Union of Students).