PT President Edinho Silva seeks to remove party members

Edinho Silva, the national president of the Workers' Party (PT), is reportedly working to remove members of a faction known as the “centrão petista” with the approval of President Lula. The movement aims to reorganize the party and build a new internal majority following a National Executive meeting.

A primary target of this initiative is Washington Quaquá, the mayor of Maricá and national vice-president of the PT. Silva has accused certain leaders, including Quaquá, of failing to properly support Lula during the presidential campaign. Quaquá has denied these allegations, stating he coordinated mobilization in Rio de Janeiro, and has responded by calling Silva “a liar, incompetent, and a gossip.”

Quaquá has indicated he will request a meeting with President Lula to address the situation. He accused Silva of acting as if he owned the party and suggested the push for removals might be retaliation for Quaquá’s intention to run for the party’s national leadership. The internal conflict also involves disputes over campaign materials and party loyalty.