PT Could Join Rousseff's Opponents to Gain Support for Lula

10/09/2017 - 11h07

Isolated by the impeachment process against Dilma Rousseff, the PT (Workers' Party) intends to give up proposing candidates to run for governor in up to 16 Brazilian states in 2018 to support other parties' candidates.

Searching for competitive candidates, PT directors are considering joining even parties that worked for then-president Rousseff' impeachment, such as the PMDB, PTB and PSB.

The idea is to support "dissenting members" of these parties who intend to run for governor and make room for a PT national camping.

This strategy will be used in case Lula does run for president or any other member of the PT becomes its candidate - which could occur if Lula's conviction is confirmed and he cannot become a candidate.

A map drawn up from information of members of the PT's board of directors shows that, a year before the first round of the 2018 elections, the PT could reduce the number of states where it will have a candidate running for governor to 11. In 2014, the PT had 17 candidates.

The strategy to get a "ride" with stronger slates in the states is a way to compensate the isolation the PT has faced since the Lava Jato investigation and Rousseff's impeachment, which shook the relationship between members of the PT and the country's main parties.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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	Miguel Schincariol - 13.jul.17/AFP
	Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (C) speaks during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil