President Lula (PT) minimized the fact that he is already 79 years old, but did not guarantee that he will be a candidate for re-election in 2026, which would make him finish a possible second term at the age of 85, in 2030.
“I will leave 2026 to think about 2026. There are several parties that support me, and I will discuss it [reeleição] with great sobriety and seriousness,” said Lula in an interview with CNN Brazilthis Friday (8).
Asked about his age, the PT member said that “governing is not like playing sports”.
“It is not youth that will solve governance problems, but the competence, mentality, health and commitments of the ruler,” said Lula.
“If the time comes and the parties understand that there is no other candidate to face a person on the extreme right, who is a denialist, who does not believe in medicine and science, obviously, I will be ready to face it”, he added.
Despite the apparent willingness to face a new election, Lula said he “hopes that this will not be necessary”. The PT member’s expectation is that new candidates will emerge to promote a “great political renewal”.
Lula had already signaled his desire not to run again
In a similar statement to the radio CBNin July this year, Lula said that “there are a lot of good people to be candidates” and, therefore, he does not need to be the leftist candidate in 2026.
Still in 2022, during the pre-election campaign, Lula signaled that he would not try to be re-elected.
“When December 31, 2026 arrives, when we hand over this mandate to someone else, this country will be fine”, said the PT member, at the time, on Metrópole radio, in Bahia.
