Why Marco Aurélio Cunha backed the budget, São Paulo opposition says | OneFootball

In the tight vote that approved São Paulo’s budget plan for 2026 this Thursday (18th), one absence caught the attention of the tricolor fans: that of councilman Marco Aurélio Cunha, considered a ‘savior’ by many São Paulo supporters.

As can be seen in the list of all votes for the budget, Dr. Marco Aurélio does not appear as a participant in the club’s election. But he explained the reason.

“So that everyone knows, I resumed my seat on the SPFC Council a week ago and according to the Statute, there is a ‘quarantine’ rule, actually a 90-day period before you can vote or be voted for. Of course I would have voted against this budget. I will remain in opposition until SPFC is freed from this hijacking,” justified MAC through his X account, formerly Twitter.

On the 10th, Marco Aurélio Cunha officially announced his return to the São Paulo Council to try to help in a ‘critical moment for the club,’ as he himself mentioned.

MAC had been on leave from the body since the first half of 2024, when he gave up being the candidate nominated by the opposition to run against Julio Casares for the presidency. The scenario now, however, has changed considerably, with the current president extremely weakened and losing allies.

The movement, clearly, is strictly political, aiming at the race to succeed Casares at the end of next year. Cunha’s name is seen favorably to join a ticket from groups opposed to the current president, not necessarily as the head of the slate.

Currently a sports commentator on a TV program, MAC has recently even received praise from former adversaries, such as Independente, the club’s main organized supporters group, who praised him in a protest as a way to attack then football director Carlos Belmonte.

Speaking of Belmonte, despite the former director having committed to Casares not to speak publicly about his political moves and having been asked to remain in the support coalition, he is expected to be among those who will talk to MAC to build a ticket.

Marco Aurélio Cunha and Casares have more personal than political disagreements. The former football director never liked the freedom that the former marketing director had during his time at CT da Barra Funda. Furthermore, it was Casares who led the attacks on MAC when he left the Juvêncio administration and began to work in the opposition, with the two even exchanging public barbs on a ‘TV Gazeta’ program.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.