The Minister of Planning, Simone Tebet, is holding talks with the PSB, a party led nationally by João Campos, according to sources heard by the report. According to these interlocutors, Tebet is considering leaving the MDB amid negotiations for the 2026 elections.
Despite the rumors, the national president of MDB, Baleia Rossi, told the reporter that, for now, Simone Tebet remains affiliated to the party and that there is nothing official yet. The statement, however, does not rule out speculation about a possible change of party, given the progress in talks with the PSB.
If the departure of the MDB is confirmed, allies believe that the movement can strengthen the construction of a majority ticket in São Paulo involving President Lula and the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, as the main bet of the government camp to face Governor Tarcísio de Freitas in the dispute for the Palácio dos Bandeirantes.
Lula bets on Haddad
Haddad has not yet officially confirmed any intention to run for the São Paulo government. Even so, the president Lula made a public wave to the minister during an event held in São Paulothis Tuesday (3), highlighting the government’s economic results. In a good-humored tone, he stated:
“I’m a very lucky guy. I’m so lucky that Haddad took the microphone and told you: we have the lowest accumulated inflation in four years in the history of Brazil, the lowest unemployment in the history of Brazil, the highest growth in wages, the highest agricultural production”, said the president. “All this because I’m lucky. So get ready: when the election comes, vote for those who are lucky”, he added.
Behind the scenes, the speech was interpreted by allies as a sign of political prestige for Haddad and an indication that the president is closely following the electoral articulations in São Paulo, on a board that could take on new contours with the possible party change of Simone Tebet.
