Gilberto Kassab, president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), believes that Governor Tarcísio de Freitas of São Paulo was the most influential political supporter in the state’s capital
10/08/2024
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Gilberto Kassab, national president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and São Paulo’s secretary of government, celebrated his party’s success in this year’s elections, winning 878 mayoral races in the first round, including three in state capitals. Speaking to Valor, Mr. Kassab emphasized that the results showed the political center as the country’s dominant force. He also noted that those who tried to nationalize the election miscalculated, and pointed out that Governor Tarcísio de Freitas of São Paulo, from the Republicans Party, was the most influential political supporter in the state.
Mr. Kassab expressed confidence in Mayor Ricardo Nunes, from the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), as the favorite in São Paulo’s runoff and expected him to secure most of the votes that went to businessman Pablo Marçal, from the Brazilian Labor Renewal Party (PRTB). However, he cautioned that “no election is won before the votes are counted.” When asked about Mr. Marçal’s endorsement of Mr. Nunes, he said now was the time to “bring together all the support.”
“The biggest mistake in this election was by those who believed the campaign would be nationalized, as it became clear that local issues and circumstances prevailed,” Mr. Kassab said. “The second mistake was by those who claimed the world was polarized and the political center would disappear—those people were proven wrong,” he added confidently.
“The center is larger than both the right and the left,” he continued, rejecting the label of “Centrão” typically applied to parties that support any government in power. Instead, Mr. Kassab defined the PSD as part of the political center, which also includes the MDB and the Brazil Union Party, in his view. “It’s clear that the center is the biggest political force in Brazil, larger than the Liberal Party (PL), Progressive Party (PP), and Republicans,” he said.
According to data from the Electoral Court, the combined votes of the PSD, MDB, and Brazil Union totaled 40.161 million, surpassing the 32.953 million votes obtained by the main right-wing parties (PL, PP, and Republicans). The left-wing parties (Workers’ Party, or PT, Brazilian Socialist Party, PSB, Democratic Labor Party, PDT, and Socialism and Liberty Party, PSOL) received a total of 21.156 million votes.
Mr. Kassab also observed that neither President Lula (PT) nor former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) played decisive roles in São Paulo’s elections. “They did their part,” but both stepped back when they realized they weren’t essential in the state’s capital, he explained. “They might have been crucial in other cities, but not in São Paulo,” he concluded.
In this context, Mr. Kassab viewed Governor Tarcísio de Freitas as the main political force in São Paulo city. “He was very important, bringing a manager’s perspective, partnership, and the example of what would be good for the city, and he is highly approved,” Mr. Kassab observed.
Mr. Kassab sees Mayor Nunes as favored to win. “Marçal is a conservative candidate, and his voters are mostly conservative, right-leaning,” he noted, adding that São Paulo voters’ rejection of Congressman Guilherme Boulos (PSOL), who represents the left, was more significant.
He emphasized that the second round provides an opportunity to “show more, with more time, what has been done and what will be done, to present the team, and to have the right conversations at the right time with the right people.”
Mr. Kassab described Mr. Marçal as a figure who made his mark, garnered millions of votes, and is part of democracy, but noted that the social media influencer is not a politician by trade. “I’m not sure how long he’ll remain in politics,” Mr. Kassab said. When reminded that Mr. Marçal came close to making the runoff, threatening to edge out either Mayor Nunes or Mr. Boulos, he replied, “Almost, but not quite.”
He dismissed the idea that Mr. Marçal’s electoral performance posed a threat to traditional politics. “It’s not like that; nothing beats the work done by a manager. Ricardo [Nunes] is doing very well. No social media or digital mobilization can overcome the mayor’s accomplishments,” he stated firmly.
For the first time since 1992, when municipal elections were held after Brazil’s redemocratization, the MDB lost its position as the party with the most mayoral victories, electing 847 mayors—31 fewer than the PSD.
The PSD, led by Mr. Kassab, also reelected the mayors of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes; Florianópolis, Topázio Neto; and São Luís, Eduardo Braide. The party secured spots in runoffs in Belo Horizonte with Fuad Noman and Curitiba with Eduardo Pimentel.
The PSD made significant gains in regions led by its key figures. In São Paulo state, where Mr. Kassab led efforts to recruit mayors in recent years, the party elected 203 mayors—139 more than in 2020. In Minas Gerais, Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco nearly doubled the number of mayors, electing 140.
In Bahia, Senator Otto Alencar elected 115 mayors, six more than in the previous election. In Paraná, Governor Ratinho Júnior won in 162 municipalities, 33 more than four years ago, and is awaiting the second round in the capital.
Mr. Kassab dismissed criticism from opponents regarding the PSD’s control of three ministries in the Lula administration while being a key ally of the governor of São Paulo. He argued that the party remained neutral in the presidential election, though some branches, like those in Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Maranhão, campaigned for Mr. Lula while he supported Mr. De Freitas in São Paulo.
“It’s more than legitimate for them to be part of the federal government, just as it’s legitimate for me to be in the state government. We ask for votes to govern together,” Mr. Kassab explained. Now, he said, the PSD is preparing for 2026. “We dream of having our own presidential candidate,” he concluded.
By Andrea Jubé — Brasília
Source: Valor International