The document “Caminhos para o Brasil” was released this Wednesday (22), a text that aims to summarize the party’s political position approximately one year ahead of 2026.
Ten years after the emblematic “”, the MDB softens and leaves in the background the discourse of fiscal austerity, the central and practically only point of the 2015 manifesto, and now focuses on the defense of democracy, development and the reduction of inequalities.
The party’s new document, entitled “”, was released at an event at the Brasil 21 Convention Center, with the presence, among others, of the president of the MDB, Baleia Rossi, the minister Simone Tebet (Planning), the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, and the former president of the Republic José Sarney.
The 67-page text was prepared by the Ulysses Guimarães Foundation and was coordinated by former minister Aldo Rebelo.
Supported by three axes —the consolidation of democracy, the resumption of investment and the reduction of inequalities—, the document defends issues more identified on the left, such as social responsibility and the fight against the climate crisis, and more on the right, such as fiscal balance.
“The commitment to moderation, pragmatism, the search for consensus and balance acts as a counterweight to the wear and tear generated by the intensification of radical political positions, which emanate from both the extreme right and the extreme left.”
As deputies Baleia Rossi and Alceu Moreira (president of the Ulysses Guimarães Foundation) wrote this Wednesday, the party’s objective is to place itself at the center.
“Our path is from the center. From the true center. The one that dialogues from the center-left to the center-right. Sometimes demanding fiscal responsibility, sometimes encouraging more bold investments. The center is not a starting point, it is an arrival point. We are liberal in the economy, with deep social responsibility.”
Despite having led Dilma’s election, sectors of the MDB supported Dilma’s election in the second round and, after the PT’s victory, became part of the government with the occupation of three ministries. The party makes up the center and right-wing group that works for a presidential candidacy for Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) in 2026, but, just as four years ago, sectors are trying to stay on Lula’s boat.
“It is necessary to adopt an attitude of responsibility and planning, with prudence in budget management, well-directed structural and administrative reforms and consistent efforts to reduce public deficits, always taking care not to compromise essential services, nor transfer the weight of the crisis to future generations”, says the text released this Wednesday.
“”, released in October 2015, had a very different tone, much more to the right.
The period was one of strong economic and political crisis. Despite holding the vice-presidency of the Republic at the time, the party was making great strides towards leading the impeachment of () the following year.
Just over a month later, for example, the president of the Chamber, Eduardo Cunha (then at MDB). Days later Michel Temer, who would take over the position, stated, among other things, that he considered himself a “decorative deputy”.
“Bridge to the Future” was coordinated by Moreira Franco, who would be Temer’s minister, and had the influence of , a strongman in the economy during the military dictatorship (1964-1985).
The text had a robust defense of rigor in public accounts, outlined a scenario of structural fiscal crisis and a dysfunctional State and, in the convulsed political and economic environment, addressed the business community and the right with several proposals.
These include tough structural reforms to stem the growth of spending, the end of constitutional constraints (such as minimum spending on health and education), the elimination of indexation of salaries and social security benefits and a reform of Social Security with a minimum age of 65, “with a forecast of further escalation in the future depending on demographic data”.
“Our fiscal imbalance has reached a critical point. Its solution will be very harsh for the population as a whole, it will have to contain emergency measures, but mainly structural reforms”, preached the text.
