The governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, faces increasing pressure from the Liberal Party (PL) to leave Republicans, his current party. Movement gains strength especially with Jair Bolsonaro’s support for a possible presidential candidacy for presidency in 2026.
According to CNN analyst Pedro Venceslau, the PL wants to have Tarcisio in its paintings, either to dispute the Planalto Palace or to run for reelection in São Paulo. The pressure on the governor has increased as he grows as an electoral possibility of the right to the next presidential elections.
Resistance and political strategy
Despite harassment, Tarcisio has resisted the change of party. The governor adopts a different political strategy from his predecessors, choosing to distribute power among various subtitles rather than concentrating it in a single party.
This approach contrasts with the long management of PSDB in the state, which maintained a party hegemony for 28 years. Tarcisio, in turn, maintains alliances with nine different parties, including the PSD of Gilberto Kassab, the PP, and the MDB.
Bolsonarist pressure and political future
Bolsonarists have criticized Republicans for not striving in agendas such as amnesty and pressure on the Federal Supreme Court. In addition, the party has a Lula government minister, a fact that displeases the most aligned wing to former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
Despite the pressure, Tarcisio maintains his position, playing with caution and looking at 2026. The governor believes he can choose any party from his base, not necessarily the PL, remaining well accommodated politically.
Tarcisio’s final decision on its party affiliation remains uncertain, but its current resistance indicates a preference for maintaining the power distribution strategy between different political associations.
