Lula campaign wants Wagner out amid scandal fears

The campaign team for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's re-election is concerned that a scandal involving Senator Jaques Wagner is damaging the president's standing. In a closed-door meeting, campaign leaders decided to recommend Wagner's swift departure from his government leadership position. They believe this move will allow him to defend himself more effectively.

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The campaign leadership assesses that the scandal involving the government leader in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), in the Master case is already contaminating the president.

The Workers' Party (PT) plans to publicly support investigations into corruption, regardless of whether the accused are allies or opponents. This strategy aims to distance the party from the scandal. Party analyses indicate that the presidential race is closer than current polls suggest. While Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula's main challenger, has seen some support decline following revelations about his ties to the owner of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro, the government's tracking shows this drop has stabilized.

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In a closed-door meeting this Monday, 22, leaders decided to recommend Wagner's departure from leadership as soon as possible to defend himself outside the position.

However, the Federal Police's discoveries concerning Wagner have revived negative perceptions of corruption associated with the PT during the Lula and Dilma Rousseff administrations. Wagner had initially resisted leaving his post, arguing it would imply guilt, and he denies receiving bribes from Master. The political situation is now deemed unsustainable by both the PT and the government.

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The PT will adopt the discourse that it supports investigations into Master's fraudulent activities against anyone, whether opposition or ally.

Lula is scheduled to have a definitive conversation with Wagner on Wednesday. Some of Wagner's allies are now suggesting Senator Teresa Leitão as a replacement leader, noting she has not been involved in efforts to oust Wagner. The timing of the Bahia independence ceremony on July 2nd, where Wagner and other key PT figures from the state are expected to be present, also influences the decision. Despite Wagner's desire to be announced as Lula's Senate representative at the event, the president's advisors believe the announcement of his resignation cannot wait due to the escalating daily damage.

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Until the meeting of the president's campaign command, Wagner did not intend to leave the government leadership, under the argument that this would be a confession of guilt.