Electoral rule requires Alckmin to step aside as minister to run for office, but does not prevent him from continuing as Lula’s vice-president
Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, (PSB) announced this Thursday (5th March 2026) that he will leave command of the ministry on April 4th, the deadline for members of the Executive who intend to contest the 2026 elections to leave their positions. 
He will remain in the position of vice president, which does not require removal for anyone who intends to run in the election.
The non-compatibilization rule determines that ministers leave office 6 months before the 1st round of the election, scheduled for October 4th. The requirement, however, does not apply to the vice presidency. Therefore, Alckmin will be able to continue in his post even participating in the electoral dispute, as long as he does not assume the Presidency of the Republic during this period.
According to legislation, the vice-president may become ineligible if he temporarily holds the Presidency within the 6 months before the election. Therefore, if he decides to run for another position, Alckmin will have to avoid replacing Lula in any absence.
POLITICAL FUTURE
Alckmin’s political future in government. It is not yet known whether he will run again for the vice-presidency on the São Paulo government ticket – a position he held for 4 terms (2001 to 2006 and 2011 to 2018) –, or a seat in the State Senate. São Paulo is the largest electoral college in the country.
The Minister of Finance (PT), cited as a possible candidate for the São Paulo government, is also in the negotiations, although he has resistance to the dispute. The definition should only come in the coming months, as alliances and candidacies in the States are consolidated.
MERCOSUR-EU AGREEMENT
In an atmosphere of farewell from his position, Alckmin attended the February presentation. Normally, only technicians from the Foreign Trade Secretariat disclose the data. He gave a brief overview of just over 3 years at the helm of the MDIC.
The vice-president and minister commented on the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union and that the government’s expectation is that the treaty will come into force in May.
According to Alckmin, the ratification by the National Congress, which concluded the approval of the treaty on Wednesday night (March 4, 2026), ends more than two decades of negotiations and paves the way for the provisional application of the pact. The vice president also highlighted that the agreement provides safeguards to protect the national industry in the event of an excessive increase in imports.
With information from Agência Brasil.
