Lula says he already has a candidate for the SP and MG governments, but “they may not want to be”

BRASÍLIA – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said in an interview with SBT News broadcast this Monday, 15, that he wants to participate in a campaign of “civilized, high-level and highly democratic debate” in the context of the conflict for the Palácio do Planalto in 2026. The president also said that he already has candidates for the government of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, as well as candidates for the Senate of the two states.

“I hope it will be a civilized, high-level campaign, with a highly democratic debate, because it is necessary to get Brazil out of the hatred it finds itself in. The political campaign could help us to enforce politics again, strengthen institutions and make democracy the big winner,” Lula said.

Concerning São Paulo and Minas, Lula said it was too early to name the candidates he prefers. According to the president, even if they have candidates, they must agree to participate in the campaign. An emblematic case is that of Senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), who refuses to be the candidate of the government of Minas Gerais supported by the member of the PT.

“I think it’s too early for you to define things about the elections that will take place in October 2026. I have all the time in the world to try to make the necessary arrangements. Obviously I already have a candidate for governor of São Paulo, I have a candidate for senator for São Paulo, I already have a candidate in Minas Gerais. But the ones I want may not want to be,” Lula said.

Among the names frequently cited as Lula’s options in São Paulo are Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT), Minister of Planning, Simone Tebet (MDB) and Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprises and Small Businesses,Mario Franca(PSB).

The president said he could not yet choose his preferred opponent, but was ready to immediately take on those from the right-wing camp considered as presidential candidates. Confident, Lula declared that his re-election is the “only certainty” he has.

“I am ready to compete with them all at once. I have things to announce to the Brazilian people, I have a responsibility to the Brazilian people that I doubt any other president has. (…) Some can make promises, I will show the true picture of what I found in this country and what we have done in this country,” the president said.