Petistas maintain a tacit pact so that only the debate on the succession of the president () after those of 2026, when he should run for reelection.
The assessment is that the anticipation of this debate would represent a disservice to the left. In the words of an exponent of the PT, the search for a successor would be a political suicide. Also because this name does not exist and there will be no other Lula.
In January, at the first ministerial meeting of 2025, Lula recalled incidents suffered last year, such as a crash on the presidential plane and his crash in the bathroom, to recognize that reasons beyond his will can make an application for reelection unfeasible.
Although the president said that only God knows if he will be a candidate, the statement was not received by the team as a foreshadowing of withdrawal, but an incentive for his ministers to work more, either by the success of the government or a personal opportunity.
Within this strategy, they repeat that Lula is the only alternative from the left to 2026. Despite this speech, the president’s allies wage a behind -the -scenes dispute to enable themselves as heirs of this legacy, especially in a moment of fragility of Finance Minister (PT).
The head of the economic team is often remembered for the presidential elections, after reaching the second round against Jair Bolsonaro in 2018. But in conversations, Haddad even admitted a period of rebate after the crisis caused by the dissemination of operations taxation in January.
He pointed to the high rejection rate of the Minister of Finance, and his peers recognize that they did little to preserve him-which eventually hit the Lula administration.
The tear of the minister’s image made it possible to emerge from other potential successors. Today cited only for the 2030 presidential elections, the name of the minister, of the Supreme Court (STF), was pointed out as a hypothesis already for 2026.
Former governor of Maranhão, he gained notoriety at the head of the Ministry of Justice in 2023. His performance for greater transparency in the execution of parliamentary amendments maintains his name on the political scene, feeding rumors that he can abandon Toga to enter an electoral dispute.
The Minister of Education, (PT), is also cited for the presidential dispute, especially after the victory over pockets in the race for the Fortaleza City Hall. In speeches, Lula even challenges him, in a joking tone, to perform better to Haddad in education-the current holder of the farm commanded the education portfolio in the previous administrations of Lula and also in the Dilma Rousseff administration.
The Senate government leader (PT-BA) is always remembered for the dispute, even being probed in 2018 against Bolsonaro. But did not accept the mission.
Considered as a political godson of Wagner, the head of the Civil House, (PT), has gained space in the role of government manager.
The name of the vice president, (), comes in conversations as an option for a scenario that requires a movement for the center.
While allies reaffirm Lula’s candidacy as only viable, the president’s attitudes have been viewed as an attempt to give visibility to options to his name. The decision of appointing the PT president, (PR), for the ministry responsible for the political articulation was understood as part of this search for alternatives.
The president himself argued that this would be a rescue of her image. In conversations about the succession in the folder, Lula said he owes Gleisi the opportunity to show his articulation ability.
Lula also stated that her choice in the ministry would be a recognition of her work in charge of the PT, where she has been since 2017.
The own appointment of (PT) for it is understood as a chance to make electoral viable, even if it is for a Senate dispute in 2026, or to the City of São Paulo in 2028.
In the conversations, Lula shows enthusiasm with the 2026 presidential campaign. A proof of this is in the decision to appoint Gleisi to the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, in addition to the arrival of publicist Sidônio Palmeira to the Planalto Palace.
With the support of the name of the former mayor of Araraquara Edinho Silva to the presidency of the PT, Lula takes members of the 2022 campaign nucleus. During last Thursday (6) meeting with leaders of the greatest strength of the PT, the vice president of the party and mayor of Maricá (RJ), Washington Quaquá, told Lula that if to lose, it would be better to get in the contest.
“But this hypothesis does not exist. Lula is excited and confident. He will compete and win,” said Quaquá.
The possibilities from left to 2026, besides Lula:
- Camilo Santana
In favor: he is responsible for the foot, experience as a governor and won his pockets in the dispute for the Fortaleza City Hall
Against: with concentrated trajectory in Ceará, it did not reach national visibility
- Fernando Haddad
In favor: has administrative experience and has already reached the second round in the dispute for the presidency in 2018
Contra: The Fiscal Austerity Policy ahead of the farm and episodes such as the Pix crisis shook its popularity
- Flávio Dino
In favor: it gained notoriety between leftist militants in facing pockets and defending transparency in the execution of amendments
Against: With a few years in the chair, he would have to resign from the post of STF minister and face accusations of politicization of the position.
- Geraldo Alckmin
In favor: with a path in the center right, it could have a broader range than the Petista left
Against: Your last invested in a presidential race as head of the plate was a failure, with less than 5% of the votes.
- Hoffmann
In favor: fierce, has Lula’s confidence and support from leftist militants. Gains visibility when indicated for the Secretariat of Institutional Relations
Against: suffers rejection between voters and parliamentarians of center right
In favor: MTST’s psolist and leader has Lula’s sympathy and is pointed out as a novelty on the left
Against: MTST actions conferred on the invader’s pecha, which limits the chance of expansion to the center. Was defeated in the race for the city of São Paulo
- Jaques Wagner
In favor: of conciliatory profile, he took the political leadership in Bahia after the defeat of carlism in the state
Against: In 2018, he declined Lula’s invitation to run for presidency against Jair Bolsonaro, showing little appetite for the dispute
In favor: as a presidential candidate, the founder of the network obtained national recognition and support from center-left voters
Against: The Environmental Defense Agenda restricts an expansion to the right
- Rui Costa
In favor: former governor of Bahia, gained visibility in the role of “manage” of the government
Contra: Owner of a hard style, he won disaffected in the Esplanade and Congress
