Edinho says that the current arrangement “is not ours”, states that Lula fights corruption and demands reforms after years of coalition in PT governments
The national president ofEdinho Silva, stated, this Friday (April 24, 2026), at the opening of the party’s 8th National Congress, in Brasília, that the current political model in Brazil does not belong to the PT camp and needs to be confronted.
“The time has come for us to denounce the political model that is there, because it is not ours, it does not serve us and we never defended this political model“, said Silva.
From 2003 to 2016, the PT governed the country as the protagonist and beneficiary of coalition presidentialism. In the Lula and (PT), the party operated with center and right-wing parties, distributing ministries in exchange for support from congressmen. During this period, neither political reform nor judicial reform got off the ground.
Silva did not specify which model he was referring to, but contextualized the criticism within an analysis of the financialization of the economy, the concentration of income and what he called “long crisis of capitalism”. He defended structural reforms in the Judiciary, the tax system and the world of work.
The party president declared that the PT has the moral authority to face the issue and cited President Lula as an example.
“Yes, we fight corruption. The person who asked for an investigation into the allegations against the INSS has a name, his name is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The person who asked for an investigation against the frauds at Banco Master has a name, his name is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva”these.
“The 2026 dispute is not an electoral dispute, it is a dispute for the future of Brazil”, said Edinho
The Mensalão scandal, during the first Lula government, and the Petrorão scandal, during the Dilma government, both involved the involvement of PT leaders and congressmen. Former Minister of the Civil House José Dirceu, for example, was convicted in the monthly allowance and was present at the congress this Friday (23 April).
The PT president’s speech was the longest and most dense of the night. In front of 519 delegates gathered at Complexo Brasil 21, Silva said that the party needs “getting off the defensive” e “listen to what society is saying”. It was an admission that there is discontent that the government has not yet managed to capture.
“We have never experienced the fascist organization in Brazil as closely as we are experiencing it now”, stated, stating that the 2026 electoral dispute is not like an ordinary election, but like “a dispute for the future of Brazil”.
The leader also demanded that the militancy compare the current government with the management of (PL) and named the opponents bluntly. “Brazil’s fascist leaders have a name and a surname. And we have to tell the Brazilian people this at all times”these.
The 8th PT Congress divided the work into five sub-secretariats. José Dirceu was responsible for the party program and also spoke at the event
The opening started empty and the plenary only gained volume around 8pm. The low presence of young people was also noticed. Among those present were:
- Edinho Silva (PT national president);
- Jilmar Tatto (PT national vice-president and federal deputy for SP);
- José Guimarães (minister of the Institutional Relations Secretariat);
- Humberto Costa (senator for PT-PE and 2nd vice-president of the Senate);
- Zeca Dirceu (federal deputy for PT-PR);
- Pedro Uczai (PT leader in the Chamber of Deputies and federal deputy for SC);
- Geraldo Alckmin (Vice President of the Republic);
- Paulo Okamotto (former president of the Perseu Abramo Foundation and one of the coordinators of Lula’s campaign);
- Carlos Lupi (former Minister of Social Security and president of the PDT);
- José Dirceu (former Minister of the Civil House);
- Márcia Lopes (Minister of Women).
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not attend – he underwent medical procedures at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital, in São Paulo. He sent a video to the event in which he confirmed his intention to run for re-election. “Get ready: I’m going to be president again”these.
The congress continues until Sunday (26 April). Lula must participate in the closing ceremony at 9:30 am.
