PSDB dissidents criticize support for Tarcísio de Freitas

A dissident group within the PSDB has issued an open letter criticizing the party's current leadership in São Paulo. The group, which includes 54 members such as former senator José Aníbal and former city councilman Mário Covas Neto, is protesting the decision by the PSDB-Cidadania federation to support the reelection of Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) instead of fielding its own majoritarian candidates.

The signatories argue that this move represents a departure from the party's historical social-democratic roots and its long-standing political responsibility in the state, which the party governed for nearly 30 years. They also questioned the legitimacy of the provisional leadership, noting it was not elected through democratic conventions.

Paulo Serra, the state president of the PSDB, minimized the discontent, stating that the dissenters simply do not accept the majority decision to support Tarcísio. The internal friction comes amid a period of decline for the party in the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, where its representation has dropped significantly.