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🇧🇷 Brazil /Elections & Politics

Lula appeals, and Cid Gomes will run for Senate in Ceará to aid PT against Ciro Gomes

From Folha de S.Paulo · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Senator Cid Gomes will seek re-election in Ceará after President Lula's personal appeal to strengthen the PT's senatorial bloc.
  • Gomes' decision aims to bolster the campaign of Governor Elmano de Freitas, who faces a strong challenge from Cid's brother, Ciro Gomes.
  • Lula is actively securing regional alliances to support his re-election bid, with upcoming negotiations for a gubernatorial candidate in Minas Gerais.

Senator Cid Gomes (PSB-CE) has decided to run for re-election in Ceará following a direct appeal from President Lula (PT). Gomes had previously stated he would not seek further terms, but his change of heart is seen as crucial for bolstering the campaign of current governor Elmano de Freitas (PT), who is reportedly at risk of losing his re-election bid.

The president made an appeal. I am a soldier of the party.

— Cid GomesSenator Cid Gomes explains his decision to seek re-election after President Lula's request.

De Freitas's main opponent is expected to be former minister and ex-governor Ciro Gomes (PSDB), who is Cid Gomes's brother. The decision to run was solidified after a meeting at the Palácio da Alvorada, attended by Lula, de Freitas, Institutional Relations Minister José Guimarães, and Senator Camilo Santana (PT-CE). Photos from the meeting, showing Lula and Cid Gomes posing together, are expected to be used in the alliance's campaign materials.

"The president made an appeal. I am a soldier of the party," Cid Gomes told Folha, explaining his decision. He indicated that Lula expressed concern about the Workers' Party (PT) electing too few allied senators, which could weaken the governing bloc in Congress during a potential second presidential term. Minister Guimarães confirmed that Gomes would be the PT's senatorial candidate for one of the Ceará seats, though the second candidate for the ticket is still to be determined.

The president expressed concern about the possibility of electing few allied senators, which would weaken the governing bloc in Congress for a potential new presidential term.

— Cid GomesGomes elaborates on President Lula's motivations for seeking his re-election.

This move is part of President Lula's broader strategy to consolidate regional alliances ahead of the upcoming party conventions, which run from July 20 to August 5. Lula is also focused on resolving the gubernatorial candidacy in Minas Gerais, the state with the second-largest electorate, where he plans to meet with Congressman Patrus Ananias (PT-MG). The goal of these regional pacts is to ensure that state-level candidates actively campaign for Lula's federal re-election bid.

Cid declared support for Lula and Elmano, and will be our candidate for senator for one of the seats. He heeded the president's appeal.

— José GuimarãesMinister José Guimarães confirms Cid Gomes's candidacy and his response to Lula's appeal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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