The Por (New) with the President (PT) on Tuesday (11) is a way for the governor of Minas Gerais to try to differentiate himself from the head of the state executive, (Republicans), in the relationship with the petista.
The two are quoted as representatives of the right to the 2026 presidential elections-and the support options of the former president (), who, despite maintaining a candidate speech, is ineligible until 2030.
The publicly exchanged barbs between Zema and Lula on the stage in Betim (MG) contrasted with them two weeks ago. The Minas Gerais governor sought, with the event, to demonstrate the strength to directly confront the president in guidelines that both publicly differ, point allies.
At an opening event of an automotive center of the private initiative, Zema indirectly criticized the number of Lula ministries, the veto to Propag (full payment program of the states) and rulers living in palaces.
Lula responded by praising his team and attributing to her the country’s economic results, evaluated by the president as positives. He took the opportunity to provoke the Minas Gerais Governor to compare the results with Bolsonaro’s, whom Zema seeks support.
The clash differs from the cordial tone adopted by Tarcisio with Lula at the end of last month. The governor of São Paulo thanked the president for his performance for the construction of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel. The president, in turn, said that Bolsonaro’s ally is making history with partnerships with the federal government.
“Although we are the second most populous state in Brazil, we are the one with the lowest number of secretariats: 14. But for team to win championship, it doesn’t need 20, 30 players on the field, no. It needs 11 stars and that’s what we have done here,” said Zema.
Lula, who has almost 40 ministries, responded directly. “I’m very lucky to set up this extraordinary team like this one. Because the important thing is not to discuss whether you have one or ten. The important thing is to discuss the quality of the people you have, the commitments that people have.”
The president also caused Zema with comparisons between the growth of the economy in his government and Bolsonaro, supported by the Minas Gerais governor.
“Zema hasn’t remembered how long this economy had not grown more than 3%. Neither you nor an economist. He had to get a lucky guy here, with a lucky team to make the economy grow two years in a row,” he said.
Zema’s front criticism on Tuesday were shared in new party videos and allies on social networks. They highlight the criticism of those who live in palaces, opposing images of the first lady Janja, present at the events.
At the end of the day, the governor decided to extend the clash. In audio sent by his advisory, Zema stated that GDP growth last year occurred “via anabolic injection, it is not a healthy growth.”
He also charged Lula for extolling good results from his first two terms, without commenting on the economic crisis of former President Dilma Rousseff, nominated by the petista. “Has he changed his party? Has his successor not continued what he did? It seems that they want to erase the past, rewrite him.”
The reading of Zema’s team is that he needs to reinforce the image of a Lula antagonist. This attribute is because of its closest bond with Bolsonaro – the Minas Gerais governor, for example, only the 2022 elections.
Since the last presidential elections, the governor has released signs exchanged in relation to Bolsonaro and his allies.
Questioned by Sheet Regarding how he evaluated the complaint against the former president because of the coup plot to prevent Lula’s inauguration, he said he was not a lawyer and chose to criticize the court. Tarcisio, in turn, made a more incisive defense of the president when commenting on the case.
In Minas Gerais, the PL ceased to formally compose Zema’s base in the Legislative Assembly. The assessment of members of the bench is that he does not commit to “root pockets” guidelines.
who would accept to run for office if the former president placed the request. And he claims to support Bolsonaro’s future candidacy, currently unfeasible due to two convictions in the Electoral Court.
Zema has the electoral calendar in his favor. The Minas Gerais Governor is in the second term and should resign in April to make himself available as an option to the right field and Bolsonaro. Tarcisio can also do so, but would miss the opportunity to run for reelection as governor awaiting the approval of the former president.
The Minas Gerais governor has already said that he intends to participate in the 2026 elections as a candidate or as a supporter of a viable name to face Lula.
