The exchange of hints between the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and the Secretary of Government of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab (PSD), exposed a discomfort that was already being noticed behind the scenes of the Bandeirantes Palace and the PSD.
The tension gained a public dimension after Kassab stated, at the end of January, , differentiating loyalty of submission. The statement was interpreted by the governor’s allies as a direct message about the political link between the two.
On Thursday (19), during an event, Tarcísio responded indirectly. The governor stated that whoever talks about submission understands nothing about loyalty or friendship, adding that he remains faithful to one’s values.
A day later, Kassab published a message on social media in which he lists “good friends and advisors” in his political career and recalls support that he considers successful — among them, the support given to the candidacy of Tarcísio in 2022. The gesture was read by interlocutors as a calculated response to the governor’s movement.
Tarcísio’s allies heard by the CNN admit that there was a cooling in the political relationship between the two. According to these interlocutors, Kassab lost space in the most strategic conversations around the governor. The hiring of a new Civil House Secretary, more active in political articulationis yet another element that corroborates the current scenario of the São Paulo government.
Privately, members of Tarcísio’s political group state that the president is among the names listed for eventual composition as vice em 2026following recent statements.
The assessment around the governor is that the talk about submission created unnecessary noise at a time of attempted national political consolidation.
Silent dispute for 2026
Wear adds to other friction points already mapped by political leaders in São Paulo.
Among them is the PSD’s move to affiliate mayors and parliamentarians in the state, an advance that generated discomfort in sectors of the allied base of the São Paulo government.
Another source of tension is the composition of a possible future ticket. Kassab is identified by allies as interested in occupying the vice position in an electoral project by Tarcísio, while the
There are still differences in assessment of the national strategy. While Tarcísio maintains public alignment with Bolsonaro, PSD leaders defend, behind the scenes, the need to expand bridges to the political center.
Kassab’s departure from the Tarcísio government
Despite the noise, interlocutors on both sides claim that there is, at this moment, no risk of breakage. Kassab continues, even if for a short time, in command of the Government Secretariat and is considered an important player in the political articulation of São Paulo management.
Kassab’s departure from the state government, already planned previously, should come to fruition soon. The secretary wants to focus on the PSD’s strategies for . And he also considers, according to allies, that it is incompatible to remain secretary in São Paulo while actively participating in campaigns in several other states across the country.
