PDT in São Gonçalo: competing for believers in the fourth most evangelical municipality in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This reflection is an unfolding of the doctoral research in development at PPGHS-UERJ/FFP, started in 2020, in which we analyze the political reactions of Afro-religious people before the growth of Pentecostal faith in the public sphere of São Gonçalo, starting from the aughts. The interviews conducted in the program raised greater problematizations around the political parties and axé candidacies. Thus, maintaining the methodology of field analysis, added by bibliographic discussions specialized in the political action of the terreiros, this article aims to analyze how the PDT – a party known for aligning itself with social movements, such as the black movement, inaugurating the political group AXÉ and to have representatives that stand out for their discourses related to social welfare, such as Leonel Brizola, – will, from the government of Aparecida Panisset (2005-2012), direct important support to Pentecostal evangelical politicians, while presenting, according to terreiro leaders, a certain resistance to Afro-Brazilian candidates. We observed that, due to lack of initial support within the party and among axé voters, some candidates were unable to remain in the party, deciding to migrate to other parties or withdrawing their candidacies, such as Waguinho Macumba and Ivanir dos Santos.