Event will be on October 27th; in 2026, Mateus will take over the Minas Gerais government because Romeu Zema leaves the role in April to run for another position, but will support the vice president to be his successor
The vice-governor of Minas Gerais, , left the Novo party to join the PSD of . The membership event will be on October 27th, at a hotel in Belo Horizonte.
Simões will run for the Minas Gerais government in 2026 with the support of the current holder of the position, (New). Zema will leave command of the State in April, to contest the elections – he presents himself as a pre-candidate for the Planalto, but could follow another path. The vice-president, therefore, goes to the polls sitting in the governor’s chair.
Simões’ affiliation with the PSD affects the dispute for the government of Minas Gerais, the 2nd largest electoral college in Brazil, with 16.5 million voters. This is because, the government’s Minister of Mines and Energy (PT), and, a senator allied with the president, are possible candidates for command of the State and are affiliated with the PSD.
With Simões in Kassab’s party, the doors close for the two government leaders. Furthermore, the support of the current governor tends to give momentum to the vice president. Zema is governed by the miners, according to a survey by Paraná Pesquisas released at the beginning of the month.
President of the PSD, Kassab may offer a place as a candidate for the Senate to Silveira or Pacheco. If this scenario materializes, the situation will be unusual: Simões, a candidate for the government opposing Lula, and Silveira or Pacheco running for the Senate as supporters of the president.
Another option for Lula for the government of Minas is , former mayor of Belo Horizonte. On Wednesday (October 15, 2025), Minister of Institutional Relations and former president of the PT, participated in a dinner in Brasília in honor of Kalil’s membership in the PDT.
