Protest with fireworks delays Tarcísio's campaign launch event in Osasco

The campaign launch event for São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas's re-election bid in Osasco was significantly delayed on Sunday due to a protest outside the Metalclube venue. The demonstration, which lasted about an hour, saw a group unfurling banners with messages such as "fora Tarcísio" (Tarcísio out) and criticisms directed at former Osasco Mayor Rogério Lins, who is now seeking a position as a state representative.

Three individuals involved in the protest stated they were not affiliated with any specific organization. One banner declared, "Rogério Lins betrayed the neighborhood." The disruption forced the closure of the event's main entrance, and some attendees evacuated through emergency exits. Organizers cited security concerns as the reason for this measure, particularly after the protesters launched fireworks.

The event, which brought together Tarcísio and Lins, a prominent figure in the Podemos party in São Paulo, began with noticeable empty spaces in the audience. The Podemos party has been expanding its presence in the state, significantly increasing its federal deputies. Osasco is identified as a strategic location for Tarcísio's re-election campaign, being the fifth-largest electoral district in São Paulo. In the 2022 elections, the city narrowly favored Fernando Haddad in the second round, with Lins, then mayor, endorsing Tarcísio.

Following his departure from the Osasco mayor's office in 2024, Lins accepted an invitation, with Tarcísio's approval, to join the administration of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) in São Paulo, where he assumed the role of Secretary of Sports. The protest highlights the political tensions and local dynamics influencing the governor's campaign in a key electoral area.