Maluf is removed from vice position and accuses Wellington of breaking his word

In a press release, Maluf accused Wellington and the PL of Mato Grosso of failing to comply with a political commitment that, according to him, had been constructed and formalized between the parties.

The businessman also stated that the episode demonstrates a “lack of respect”. “Whoever intends to govern a State needs, first of all, to demonstrate that their word has value,” he stated.

Maluf had been chosen to fill Wellington's deputy position and had his name approved at the Novo convention. Despite this, it was not recorded in the minutes of the PL convention sent to the TRE-MT (Regional Electoral Court of Mato Grosso).

This Friday, according to the businessman, Wellington himself announced that another name will be nominated for the vacancy.

"Today I was informed by Senator Wellington Fagundes that another name will be nominated to fill the vice position. This is not just a change of candidacy. It is about the way politics is conducted", he said.

“Lack of respect”

At the demonstration, Maluf stated that he accepted the invitation to join the ticket after a political decision that would not have been limited to preliminary conversations.

According to him, the composition led to the mobilization of supporters, definition of strategies and the beginning of structuring his campaign.

"The decision was not the result of an informal conversation or a possibility thrown at random. It was a political choice presented, constructed and formalized within the party process, including the holding of the convention", he stated.

Maluf said he entered the project in “good faith” and trusted the commitment made with Wellington. The businessman raised the tone by stating that the episode calls into question the PL candidate's ability to honor commitments.

“It is not possible to ask for trust from more than three million Mato Grosso residents when you cannot honor commitments made within your own home,” he said.

“A project was harmed, people who believed in it were disregarded and formally constructed commitments were simply discarded,” he stated.

Future of the plate

Despite Maluf's departure from the position, Novo remains, to date, in the Wellington coalition, which also brings together the MDB.

Behind the scenes, the definition of the vice candidate is still treated as open. Doctor Alencar Farina, from PL and Wellington's personal doctor, was provisionally included in the composition, but interlocutors from the party claim that new negotiations are underway.

Read in full:

“PRESS NOTE

Politics is done with responsibility, commitment, seriousness and, above all, word. Unfortunately, Senator Wellington Fagundes and the Liberal Party of Mato Grosso demonstrated enormous difficulty in understanding the meaning of these principles – which only contributes to rotting good politics.

I accepted the invitation to join, as a candidate for vice-governor, the ticket led by Senator Wellington Fagundes. The decision was not the result of an informal conversation or a random possibility. It was a political choice presented, constructed and formalized within the party process, including the holding of the convention.

From this decision, commitments were made, people were mobilized, strategies were defined and an entire campaign project began to be structured. I did this in good faith, believing in the committed word and in the seriousness of a decision taken by those who intend to govern Mato Grosso.

Today I was informed by Senator Wellington Fagundes that another name will be nominated to fill the vice position.

This is not just a change of candidacy. It's about the way politics is conducted.

Anyone who intends to govern a State needs, first of all, to demonstrate that their word has value. You need to respect commitments, allies and people who have agreed to walk alongside you. It is not possible to ask for trust from more than three million Mato Grosso residents when you cannot honor commitments made within your own home.

What happened to me represents a lack of respect not only personally, but politically. A project was harmed, people who believed in it were disregarded and formally constructed commitments were simply discarded.

I don't do politics that way and I won't accept naturalizing this type of behavior.

Mato Grosso deserves a policy made with seriousness, predictability and respect. Anyone who changes commitments according to the convenience of the moment needs to explain to society why their word today should deserve trust tomorrow.

I leave this episode with a clear conscience. I strictly fulfilled what I assumed. Others will have to answer for the choices they made and the way they decided to make them.

Marcelo Maluf”