Romeu Zema's Pre-Campaign Bets on National Projection and Strengthening the Novo Party
The presidential pre-campaign of Romeu Zema, former governor of Minas Gerais and pre-candidate for the Novo Party (*Partido Novo*), aims primarily to expand his national projection and strengthen the party for the general elections. According to information released by CNN360, the strategy acknowledges the difficulties imposed by the current political landscape, which is marked by strong polarization between the leading candidates.
According to people close to the pre-candidate, as reported by CNN360, the internal assessment is that breaking through this polarization and winning the presidency will be an extremely difficult task. Even so, the campaign believes that Zema could emerge politically stronger by the end of the electoral process, increasing his national visibility and consolidating his leadership within the Novo Party.
Priority is to Strengthen the Novo Party
Among the campaign's main objectives is overcoming the electoral threshold (*cláusula de barreira*), a mechanism that defines the criteria for parties to access the party fund, the electoral fund, free advertising time, and leadership structures in the National Congress, according to CNN360.
To achieve this goal, the Novo Party intends to elect at least six federal deputies. CNN360 reports that the campaign's assessment is that a presidential candidacy can boost the party's candidates in several states and increase its presence in Congress.
Furthermore, the campaign intends to broaden the debate on the party's core proposals, such as advocating for privatizations, reducing the size of the state, and promoting economic liberalism policies, according to CNN360.
Campaign with a Reduced Budget
Another factor considered by Romeu Zema's team is the budget available for the race. According to CNN360, the Novo Party will have approximately R$ 37.4 million for its entire electoral structure.
Of this amount, only a portion will be allocated directly to the presidential candidacy. The largest share of the resources is expected to fund campaigns for federal deputies, state deputies, governors, and senators, making a lean campaign necessary, according to the coordination team, as reported by CNN360.
Relationship with Flávio Bolsonaro
When questioned about Romeu Zema's recent criticisms of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the pre-candidate's team stated there is no intention of pursuing a reconciliation during the first round, CNN360 reported.
However, campaign interlocutors admit that a potential dialogue could take place in a second round, should Flávio Bolsonaro advance in the presidential race and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is not re-elected in the first round, according to the network.
Paraná: Ratinho Júnior Focuses Efforts on State Succession
While Romeu Zema seeks to expand his national presence, the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Júnior, has decided to focus his efforts on the state election after withdrawing from the presidential race, according to CNN360's reporting.
His main objective now is to strengthen the candidacy of Sandro Alex, the former Secretary of Infrastructure and a political ally chosen to run for the state government.
According to campaign members, Ratinho Júnior holds an approval rating of around 80% and intends to use this popularity to transfer support to his successor, according to CNN360.
Strategy Against Sérgio Moro
Sandro Alex's campaign has also launched an indirect offensive against Senator Sérgio Moro, who is leading polls as one of the main contenders for the Paraná governorship, according to CNN360.
The campaign's advertisements highlight the importance of administrative experience, arguing that governing requires a background in public management. Although Moro's name is not explicitly mentioned, the messages reference candidates who "want to govern without ever having governed," CNN360 reported.
Another argument being used is that, despite being familiar with the national landscape, some candidates may not be sufficiently acquainted with the reality of Paraná.
According to allies of the governor, while Sérgio Moro seeks to nationalize the political debate, Ratinho Júnior and Sandro Alex are adopting a strategy focused on regional issues and the continuity of the current state administration, according to information from CNN360.