Abilio evaluates leave to accompany his wife's campaign and could pave the way for Paula Calil

According to the mayor, the license must occur at the most intense moment of the campaign, if he is unable to reconcile the administrative activities of City Hall with the political agenda in the interior of the state.

“Yes, there is a plan for me to leave for possibly one or two weeks, 15 or 20 days, at a more critical time so I can walk around the state with Samantha and carry out a campaign to help her”, he said.

Abilio stated that, if there is incompatibility between the routine of municipal management and participation in the campaign, it will be necessary to leave someone else temporarily in charge of the Executive.

"If I can make City Hall's activities compatible with politics, that's fine. But, if that's not possible, someone will have to lead the management so that I can carry out this activity without causing harm to the municipality", he added.

Line of succession

According to the line of succession, the first to be called upon to take over the City Hall would be vice-mayor Vânia Rosa (MDB). However, she is also a pre-candidate for state deputy.

According to electoral legislation, if Vânia takes over as head of the Executive, even temporarily, she will be prevented from contesting this year's elections.

If the vice-mayor chooses to preserve the pre-candidacy and gives up taking on the position during Abilio's eventual leave, the City Hall will be commanded by the president of the City Council, Paula Calil (PL).

Frayed relationship

The possibility of Vânia not taking over occurs amid political strain in the relationship with the mayor. Since last year, the two began to publicly disagree on issues of municipal administration and the state political scenario.

Abilio once again criticized the vice-mayor and stated that she no longer represents the values that, according to him, motivated his choice to be part of the ticket in 2024.

Vânia was a member of Novo when she ran in the election alongside Abilio, but is currently in the MDB, a party led in Mato Grosso by state deputy Janaina Riva, the mayor's political opponent.

"Unfortunately, it's a revelation that I wouldn't have liked to have had. If she had said that before we made a composition, she wouldn't be vice. If I had known, for example, that she was an ally of Janaina Riva, she wouldn't have been my choice for vice at all. And, probably, if I had chosen someone else as vice, we would have won the same way", he stated.

The mayor also cited differences in political positioning with the vice president.

“She would probably be looking for political shelter, but it wouldn’t be with me. I saw her taking a stand against women carrying weapons and I said: ‘Wow, that’s not the person I knew’. When I asked a military police officer to be deputy, I thought she defended the values ??we defended. The construction was different”, he added.

Paula Calil can take over

Asked about the possibility of Paula Calil taking over City Hall if Vânia does not perform the role, Abilio said he trusts both the president of the Chamber and the vice-mayor.

"I trust Paula, Vânia. I think that, if she takes over, she will do a good job, because the machine is not so loose. And also, at any time that she distorts the process, I will come back and reinstate City Hall", he said.

Despite the eventual license, Abilio stated that the political command of the administration would remain under his responsibility.

“The mayor’s mandate is mine,” he declared.