The Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) will maintain the candidacy of José Luiz Datena for mayor of Sao Paulothe most important conflict in Brazil, after the attack on the far-right candidate, Pablo Marçalas his running mate reported in an interview on Monday.
Despite the support, senior members of the PSDB sent requests to the leadership asking for the action to be evaluated by the Ethics Commission and even called for the candidate’s expulsion, claiming that what happened “This is unacceptable and seriously undermines democratic values.
Datena’s running mate, Jose Anibalwho is also the chairman of the PSDB municipal council, told local media that the party would maintain its candidacy for the October 6 elections.
The candidate accused of the attack published a statement in which he claims that he is “a real guy” who, through this “extreme gesture“, expressed his “indignation at having been, on several occasions, verbally and morally attacked“Marçal. In addition, he acknowledged that he had made a mistake but that he “does not regret it in any way” and clarified that he had never “in his 67 years” used violence to resolve a conflict.
Marçal is under observation at a hospital in central São Paulo after Datena broke a chair over his back during a live television debate. The hospital has not yet released an official medical report. Datena’s reaction came after several accusations from Marçal, including some related to sexual harassment, including after he asked her when he was going to stop with the “charade” and withdraws from the candidacy.
Three weeks before Brazil’s October 6 municipal elections, polls of voting intentions technically place Marçal on a par with the current mayor, Ricardo Nunessupported by former President Jair Bolsonaro, and with Guilherme Boulosthe candidate who enjoys the support of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
