The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), once again flirted with the presidential race by stating that he intends to present a “project for Brazil” in the 2026 elections. The statement was made this Wednesday (12), during the Bradesco Asset Investment Forum, in São Paulo.
Without officially assuming the status of pre-candidate, Tarcísio stated that the election will require a team “in love with Brazil” and minimized the importance of the name that will lead this agenda.
“Regardless of who the driver is — and this is no longer the most important thing — we will be successful,” he said. At another point, he reinforced the national ambition: “We are going to present this project to Brazil, and this project will be successful”.
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The governor also stated that the country needs a “leap” and that he cannot accept Brazil remaining as “the country of the future”. When citing priorities for the national plan, he highlighted fiscal adjustment and structural reforms.
Criticism of the short term
When commenting on his administration at the head of the São Paulo government, Tarcísio said that government officials “cannot work with electoral repercussions in mind”.
He cited as an example the investment of R$14 billion in the Campinas–São Paulo Intercidades Train, a project that, according to him, does not bring immediate political returns, but is fundamental for the development of the State.
“If I thought about elections, I would never invest R$14 billion in the intercity train. It would be better to spend it on parish politics. That would give much more dividends, but we have to think about the long term”, he stated.
Signaling to the market
When speaking to investors, the governor prioritized messages about fiscal responsibility and predictability, defending that the country advances in structural reforms and adjusts public accounts.
“We are going to solve the fiscal problem,” he said, reinforcing alignment with the economic agenda defended by the private sector.
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Although he avoids confirming whether he will formally enter the dispute, Tarcísio has expanded statements with a national tone and is part of the list of names considered for the right in the presidential succession, especially given the ineligibility of Jair Bolsonaro.
