Former governor and Senate candidate Mauro Mendes (União) stated this Wednesday (19) that he disagreed with the decision of governor Otaviano Pivetta (Republicans) to replace Fábio Garcia (União) with Gisela Simona (União) in the vice-president position on the ticket competing for the Government of Mato Grosso.
Mauro calls the exchange of Fábio Garcia for Gisela a “mistake”, but denies breaking up with Pivetta
Former governor and Senate candidate Mauro Mendes (União) stated this Wednesday (19) that he disagreed with the decision of governor Otaviano Pivetta (Republicans) to replace Fábio Garcia (União) with Gisela Simona (União) in the...
Despite the disagreement, he said he recognized that the final say on the choice of vice belongs to the candidate for governor. I disagreed because he made a mistake that will probably have some present and future consequences.
- But he is the candidate, and I have always said: whoever chooses the candidate for vice is the candidate for government", he stated.
- The statement comes after Pivetta himself publicly acknowledged that the change in the ticket caused discomfort within the group.
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Mauro classified the change as a “mistake” and stated that he believes that the decision could still produce political consequences. Despite the disagreement, he said he recognized that the final say on the choice of vice belongs to the candidate for governor.
"I disagreed with his decision, but I respected it. I disagreed because he made a mistake that will probably have some present and future consequences. But he is the candidate, and I have always said: whoever chooses the candidate for vice is the candidate for government", he stated.
The statement comes after Pivetta himself publicly acknowledged that the change in the ticket caused discomfort within the group. On Sunday (17), the governor stated that there were different opinions about the composition, but that his decision prevailed.
“At first there was embarrassment, we have different opinions and the one that won was mine”, declared Pivetta.
Fábio Garcia had initially been chosen to fill the vice position. The composition was changed after the launch, on August 6, of Operation Heritage, by the Federal Police, which investigates suspected crimes against the National Financial System, embezzlement, money laundering and misuse of privileged information. The PF executed 25 search and seizure warrants and reported that the investigation involves embezzlements estimated at R$308 million.
Fábio was one of the identified targets of the operation. Days later, he left his position as a vice candidate and resumed his project of running for re-election to the Chamber of Deputies. On August 11, Pivetta chose Gisela Simona to replace him, maintaining his vice-presidential spot with União Brasil.
Mauro says he respects decision When commenting on the exchange, Mauro recalled that, when he ran for Government of Mato Grosso, he also had the autonomy to define his running mates and stated that Pivetta should have the same prerogative.
"It was like that when I was a candidate. And I exercised this right both times. Back in 2010, in fact, when we also chose, I chose as vice-president in 2018, in 2022, I made the decision to choose who would be my vice-president. And he had the right to make his decision", he said.
Even considering the wrong choice, Mauro denied that the divergence had resulted in a political break with the governor and stated that the group remained united during the campaign.
"All united. Having divergence does not mean having a rupture. We can diverge and continue walking together. Divergence is part of democracy. However, what unites us is much greater than what could eventually separate us", he declared.
Pivetta had also stated that the vice's definition was not consensual within the group. According to the governor, despite differing opinions on the composition, the allied parties gave him the freedom to make the final decision.