Marina Silva's coalition likely to back presidential candidate Aécio Neves

Ranking third in the first round of the presidential polls with over 20% of the vote, Marina Silva's coalition United for Brazil will not adopt a consensual position on the dispute in the runoff.

The member parties are the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), the Humanist Party of Solidarity (PSH), the Progressive Republican Party (PRP), the Free Homeland Party (PPL), the Socialist People's Party (PPS), the Social Liberal Party (PSL), and the political group Sustainability Network.

The two biggest political parties—PSB and PPS—have already  expressed official support for PSDB presidential candidate Aécio Neves. PHS and PSL declared that their endorsement is pending Neves's response to a document with United for Brazil's proposals concerning his government program, submitted Thursday (Oct 9). PPL, in turn, announced it is to remain neutral to the presidential race, as it regards neither of the tickets in the competition (PT and PSDB) as representative of its beliefs.

In a letter sent to the coalition's party leaders, Marina Silva said she would “calmly” wait for their opinions before making her own decision. “The opinion [to be uttered by the parties in the coalition] and the response it will get [from PSDB] will be fundamental to my individual decision, which will be announced in time,” she said.

The Sustainability Network—an association Marina Silva unsuccessfully attempted to turn into a political party—declared early this morning it would maintain its autonomy from the next government. Nonetheless, according to the group's spokesman, Deputy Walter Feldman, its members have been advised to vote for change.

“There are sectors within the Network which understand that the [PT-PSDB] polarization found in Brazil is harmful, and that we must stick to our decision of not endorsing either member of this polarization. However, most of us believe that voting for [Neves] means part of the change. Therefore, we believe that change means casting a ballot for Aécio—or a spoiled or blank one,” said Feldman to Agência Brasil.

According to Feldman, the Network's stance, however, may be different from the one to be disclosed by Marina Silva. “She is free to do her own synthesis” he stressed. He also noted that the only consensus among the Network's members is their decision of not backing PT's presidential contender, incumbent Dilma Rousseff. “In the second round, it is clear that continuity should not take place and poses a risk to democracy.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira