New York, United States, 24 Nov 2019 (Lusa) – Billionaire and former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg today officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party primaries, with the aim of defeating Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential elections.

“I am running for president to defeat Donald Trump and to rebuild America. We cannot allow four more years of President Trump’s reckless and unethical actions,” Bloomberg said in a statement from his campaign team.

Bloomberg had already ruled out a presidential race in 2020 last year, but after consultations with prominent Democratic Party figures, he reconsidered and presented the documents needed to run in the primary elections on Thursday.

Bloomberg, 77, highlights the concern to overturn the possibility of Trump’s re-election as an explanation for his candidacy as the Democratic Party’s primary elections enter a crucial phase as the first clashes approach in February in the states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.

“If he (Trump) gets another term, we can never recover from the damage. The signs could not be more visible. We must win these elections. And we must begin to rebuild America. I believe that with my experience in business, government and philanthropy I will be able to win,” Bloomberg said, referring to his career in the world of media and finance.

According to the advisors, Bloomberg’s decision is due to the lack of confidence in the 17 candidates running in the Democratic Party primaries, mentioning the lack of firmness of former Vice President Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders’ overly radical ideas and the uncertainties surrounding Senator Elizabeth Warren – the three best positioned democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential elections, according to the latest polls.

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The declaration of candidacy emphasizes that Bloomberg will not accept donations, that he will personally finance his campaign, just as he did in the three times he won the New York ‘mayor’ elections, taking advantage of his wealth estimated at more than 50 billion euros.

Bloomberg – who once belonged to the Republican Party, became independent and, in 2018, signed up for the Democratic Party – admitted a presidential candidacy in 2016, but retreated to support Hillary Clinton in the race she would eventually lose to Donald Trump.

Last year, the businessman again admitted a presidential candidacy in 2020, but stalled his decision, after an analysis of market studies that revealed a strong position of former Barack Obama’s vice president, Joe Biden.

Within the Democratic Party, support has emerged from various sectors, including those that were alongside Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Analysts consider that Michael Bloomberg’s candidacy at this time will mean an increased risk to Joe Biden’s ambitions, due to the proximity of ideological and programmatic fields between the two.

Bloomberg, who has made a fortune in the ‘media’ and has strong links to Wall Street, may, on the other hand, energize Elizabeth Warren’s and Bernie Sanders’ supporters, who show many points of disagreement with the billionaire, particularly in the area of economic policy.

“He is literally a billionaire, who will take part in the race to prevent progressives from winning,” explains Rebecca Katz, a New York Democrat strategist.

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Ex-‘mayor’ de Nova Iorque Michael Bloomberg formaliza candidatura presidencial

Nova Iorque, Estados Unidos, 24 nov 2019 (Lusa) – O bilionário e ex-presidente da Câmara de Nova Iorque Michael Bloomberg anunciou hoje oficialmente a sua candidatura às primárias do Partido Democrata, com o objetivo de derrotar o republicano Donald Trump, nas presidenciais de 2020.

“Concorro à presidência para derrotar Donald Trump e para reconstruir a América. Não podemos permitir mais quatro anos de ações imprudentes e antiéticas do Presidente Trump”, disse Bloomberg, num comunicado da sua equipa de campanha.

Bloomberg já tinha descartado, no ano passado, uma corrida presidencial em 2020, mas depois de consultas com figuras proeminentes do Partido Democrata reconsiderou e apresentou, na quinta-feira, os documentos necessários para se candidatar às eleições primárias.

Bloomberg, de 77 anos, sublinha a preocupação em anular a possibilidade de uma reeleição de Trump como explicação para a sua candidatura, no momento em que as eleições primárias no Partido Democrata entram numa fase crucial, com a aproximação dos primeiros embates, em fevereiro, nos estados do Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada e Carolina do Sul.

“Se ele (Trump) conseguir outro mandato, nunca poderemos recuperar dos danos. Os sinais não poderiam ser mais visíveis. Temos de vencer estas eleições. E devemos começar a reconstruir a América. Acredito que com a minha experiência em negócios, governo e filantropia conseguirei ganhar”, disse Bloomberg, referindo-se à sua carreira no mundo dos ‘media’ e da finança.

Segundo os assessores, a decisão de Bloomberg prende-se com a falta de confiança nos 17 candidatos que concorrem nas primárias do Partido Democrata, mencionando a falta de firmeza do ex-vice-Presidente Joe Biden, as ideias demasiado radicais de Bernie Sanders e as incertezas que rodeiam a senadora Elizabeth Warren – os três candidatos democratas mais bem posicionados para as eleições presidenciais de 2020, segundo as mais recentes sondagens.

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A declaração de candidatura enfatiza que Bloomberg não aceitará donativos, que ele financiará pessoalmente a sua campanha, tal como fez nas três vezes em que venceu as eleições para ‘mayor’ de Nova Iorque, tirando proveito da sua riqueza avaliada em mais de 50 mil milhões de euros.

Bloomberg – que chegou a pertencer ao Partido Republicano, tornou-se independente e, em 2018, inscreveu-se no Partido Democrata – admitiu uma candidatura presidencial em 2016, mas recuou para apoiar Hillary Clinton na corrida que acabaria por perder contra Donald Trump.

No ano passado, o empresário voltou a admitir uma candidatura presidencial em 2020, mas estancou a sua decisão, após uma análise de estudos de mercados que revelava uma forte posição do ex-vice-Presidente de Barack Obama, Joe Biden.

Dentro do Partido Democrata, os apoios têm surgido de vários setores, incluindo os que estiveram ao lado de Hillary Clinton, em 2016.

Os analistas consideram que uma candidatura de Michael Bloomberg nesta altura significará um risco acrescido para as ambições de Joe Biden, pela proximidade de campos ideológicos e programáticos entre os dois.

Bloomberg, que fez fortuna nos ‘media’ e que tem fortes ligações a Wall Street, pode, por outro lado, energizar os apoiantes de Elizabeth Warren e de Bernie Sanders, que mostram muitos pontos de divergência com o bilionário, nomeadamente na área de política económica.

“Ele é literalmente um bilionário, que participará na corrida para impedir que os progressistas vençam”, explica Rebecca Katz, estratega democrata de Nova York.

RJP // CSJ
Lusa/Fim